Now we have an official explanation/Q&A on the @joebiden @AbiyAhmedAli call. This is an excellent development. It mens it’s getting and will get increasing media attention.
I have it on good sources European media are now also casting nets wider on Ethiopia war narrative.
I have it on good sources European media are now also casting nets wider on Ethiopia war narrative.
https://twitter.com/kyisfa/status/1480983217528311816
Reuters reported just a tiny fraction of this yesterday.
Reading it now, but one quick point. Of course @AbiyAhmedAli asked to speak with @JoeBiden. He should have had a call with him back in November 2020, or June 2021.
Reading it now, but one quick point. Of course @AbiyAhmedAli asked to speak with @JoeBiden. He should have had a call with him back in November 2020, or June 2021.
Biden is commander in chief. He has personal decision making authority over foreign affairs/international relations and military.
“President Biden was very clear, as I just explained in the readout, that full humanitarian access should be restored, unfettered to all regions of the country. The Prime Minister seemed to understand that that was the request.”
^^ read this literally it is not code.
^^ read this literally it is not code.
R.E. Eritrea:
“I’m not going to get into our various intelligence and other assessments of the role that they’re playing currently. But suffice it to say we still believe that their role is unhelpful and that they should, frankly, stay out of this conflict.”
^^ not a demand.
“I’m not going to get into our various intelligence and other assessments of the role that they’re playing currently. But suffice it to say we still believe that their role is unhelpful and that they should, frankly, stay out of this conflict.”
^^ not a demand.
Re Turkey:
“I’m not going to get into private diplomatic conversations that have taken place –with a whole range of countries, by the way, including some of the countries that border Ethiopia and other countries in the broader region.”
^^ Again not a demand, careful language.
“I’m not going to get into private diplomatic conversations that have taken place –with a whole range of countries, by the way, including some of the countries that border Ethiopia and other countries in the broader region.”
^^ Again not a demand, careful language.
Again read this literally, this is what the readout said. They talked. Seriously and substantively but did not agree to outcomes, as is proper.
But understand the context, the US knows that TPLF is attacking Amhara and Afar again.
But understand the context, the US knows that TPLF is attacking Amhara and Afar again.
Correction: BIDEN asked for this call. Here it is in blue and white.
I note that this question is from a strongly TPLF aligned, relatively new Washington DC paper.
I note that this question is from a strongly TPLF aligned, relatively new Washington DC paper.
The final two questions had the most interesting answers.
Especially the first on AGOA which has a very newsworthy answer and which I would have expected to see in news reports.
Especially the first on AGOA which has a very newsworthy answer and which I would have expected to see in news reports.
“if more positive and constructive steps are taken to address the concerns that were raised by the U.S. Trade Representative that we would be willing to enter a process of discussion with the government of Ethiopia about an off-cycle review of their status.”
Off cycle = special.
Off cycle = special.
So the door is open. Yes the damage is done already to the existing contracts.
And Its a double edged sword, transactional, if-then, but I expect the “senior official” means well. And this answer shows that the White House has heard the anger, and acknowledged it.
And Its a double edged sword, transactional, if-then, but I expect the “senior official” means well. And this answer shows that the White House has heard the anger, and acknowledged it.
This one seems to be attracting a lot of attention, why would GOE have asked for him to return?
Well the answer to that is simple. They wanted to talk to him again. Why? I’m guessing they wanted a handover.
But this answer raises other questions.
Well the answer to that is simple. They wanted to talk to him again. Why? I’m guessing they wanted a handover.
But this answer raises other questions.
“The President and the Prime Minister did discuss Ambassador Satterfield making a trip to the region, you know, soon after he is fully on board. But again, nothing scheduled yet…“
To me this indicates this a reason for the call. Biden wants to be sure Satterfield is accepted.
To me this indicates this a reason for the call. Biden wants to be sure Satterfield is accepted.
This was the question, the first part is unclear and my assumption is that the briefer read it as asking whether Feltman would be briefing on it.
“I think the substantive readout would not be any different in meaningful ways from what I’ve already described.”
Is the answer.
“I think the substantive readout would not be any different in meaningful ways from what I’ve already described.”
Is the answer.
Which is a polite way of saying don’t expect another briefing from Feltman. He concludes.
“And I will leave those conversations to the State Department to describe further if they’d like.”
Again a palm off.
But the question is why? Several whys in fact.
“And I will leave those conversations to the State Department to describe further if they’d like.”
Again a palm off.
But the question is why? Several whys in fact.
1. Why is US being conciliatory on AGOA?
2.Why was Feltman’s departure and replacement leaked not announced?
3. Why is Feltman in all likelihood not doing a readout?
4. Why did Biden suddenly decide to talk to Abiy, after not doing so very deliberately.
2.Why was Feltman’s departure and replacement leaked not announced?
3. Why is Feltman in all likelihood not doing a readout?
4. Why did Biden suddenly decide to talk to Abiy, after not doing so very deliberately.
I think all of this happened because Feltman resigned, possibly over AGOA ostensibly anyway, but maybe for that ++. @StateDept has been wooden, clueless abc inconsistent on Ethiopia since day one. So that might have been the final straw.
It certainly explains the chaos.
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