Cablegate: Goldstone Report: Ethiopia Noncommittal

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #2638 3091608
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051608Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6749
INFO RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 0262
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 7978

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002638

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

IO/HR FOR KRUCHOWSKI, IO/UNP FOR MORRISON, NEA/IPA FOR
GIAUQUE, USUN NEW YORK FOR GERMAIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER IS KPAL
SUBJECT: GOLDSTONE REPORT: ETHIOPIA NONCOMMITTAL

REF: STATE 112828

(SBU) Pol/Econ Counselor delivered reftel demarche to Ababew
Feleke, chief of MFA's Directorate of International
Organizations, on November 3. Ethiopia being very sensitive
to outside interference in its own affairs, post emphasized
para 10 points on the possibility of Israeli actions being
subject to the extraterritorial jurisdiction of other
national or international courts. Ababew was aware that the
Human Rights Council had commissioned an investigation of the
December-January Gaza conflict but had not reviewed the
Goldstone report. He absorbed the demarche appeal to oppose
any UNGA resolution containing any of our listed offensive
elements, but replied only that he would raise the matter
with Ethiopia's New York Mission and within his own ministry.
(NOTE. Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin
is leading a large delegation to official bilateral meetings
in Washington on November 5. END NOTE.) As of Embassy COB
on November 5, Ababew had provided no clarification of
Ethiopia's position.
MUSHINGI

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