Cablegate: Ethiopia: 2003 Annual Terrorism Report

P 301216Z DEC 03
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5874
INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA
AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
CJTF HOA
USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 004636

S/CT FOR REAP, AF/E - WOLNICK, AF/RSA, NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA,
INR/AA - OFCANSKY, INR/TNC, EB/ESC/ESP-GLAS
CORRECTED TO INCLUDE OMITTED INFO ADDRESSEES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PINS ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 301352

1. This is post's submission for the 2003 Annual Terrorism
Report. Answers are keyed to questions in reftel.

2. Post Responses

A) Significant actions taken by host government to support
the Global Coalition Against Terrorism: The Government of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) is a firm and
committed partner in the Global Coalition Against Terrorism
and has not shied away from making public statements
condemning terrorism to include providing full support to the
U.S. policy on Iraq. The GFDRE has cooperated in USG efforts
to block any terrorist assets that might be in Ethiopia. In
fall 2003, the GFDRE created a committee to draft new
counterterrorism legislation and expects to enact this new
counterterrorism law by early 2004.

B) Response of Judicial System: The GFDRE did not prosecute
any incidents related to terrorism in 2003. There were no
acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens or facilities in
Ethiopia in 2003.

C) Extraditions: The GFDRE did not extradite or request the
extradition of suspected terrorists in 2003. There were no
USG requests to the GFDRE for extradition of suspected
terrorists in 2003. We believe Ethiopia would extradite
suspected terrorists to the U.S. if requested, although we
have no extradition treaty.

D) Impediments to prosecution: There were no significant
impediments to prosecution and/or extradition of suspected
terrorists in Ethiopia in 2003. However, the GFDRE's ability
to respond effectively to terrorism is hampered by
insufficient funding and inadequate training of its security
forces and judiciary. Criminal cases languish in the
judicial system and suspects can spend years awaiting trial.

E) Responses other than prosecution: The GFDRE has
consistently condemned terrorism, including the 1998 Nairobi
and Dar es Salaam bombings and the 9/11 attacks. Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi regularly condemns all forms of
terrorism. The GFDRE has taken actions to controls its
border with Somalia to prevent smuggling and terrorist
movement. The GFDRE and the Government of Djibouti are
discussing ways to reduce terrorists' ability to move across
their border en route to and from Yemen and Somalia. The
GFDRE is cooperating with the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn
of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in training to fight terrorism.
Infantry forces from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division,
currently assigned to CJTF-HOA, have conducted three-month
training sessions for elements of the Ethiopia National
Defense Forces (ENDF) at the Hurso Camp in eastern Ethiopia
in an effort to establish the first of three new
anti-terrorism battalions in the ENDF. Ethiopian Foreign
Minister Seyoum stated during his address to the opening
session of the UNGA in September 2003 that, "We in Ethiopia
are determined to contribute more than our share to assist in
the regeneration of our sub-region which has also been the
target of international terrorism. The achievement of peace
and national reconciliation in Somalia is extremely critical
in the fight against this scourge as well. That is why all
those who are willing to join in the fight against
international terrorism should be automatically supportive of
the peace effort by IGAD in Somalia." Ethiopia and Yemen
issued a joint statement on July 22 underlining the need "for
great cooperation amongst countries in the region in the
fight against this evil (terrorism)", and for an
international conference on terrorism under the umbrella of
the United Nations.

F) Major counterterrorism efforts: There were no major
counterterrorism efforts undertaken by the GFDRE in 2003.

G) Support for terrorism: The GFDRE did not give any support
to terrorism in any manner in 2003.

H) Statements supporting terrorism: The GFDRE did not make
any public statements in support of a terrorist-supporting
country on a terrorism issue in 2003.

I) Changes in attitude: There were no significant changes in
the GFDRE's attitude toward terrorism in 2003.

BRAZEAL

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