US embassy cable - 03SANAA2474

UNCLAS SANAA 002474 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/PD, NEA/RA, DS/OP/NEA AND 
S/CT 
CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, PTER, KISL, YM 
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION ON BURNS'S VISIT TO YEMEN 
OCTOBER 3-4, 2003. 
 
NEA/PPD FOR MQUINN, JKINCANNON, ACASPER, JDAVIES 
 
 
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State 
William Burns's visit to Yemen received wide and positive 
coverage in the Yemeni media in general.  Without commenting 
on the visit, some papers published straight coverage of his 
meetings with President Saleh and with the Supreme 
Commission for Elections and Referenda. This time, the media 
coverage of a visit made by a top US official to Yemen was 
less negative than has often been the case in the past.  END 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
 
2. "Al-Thawra 10/04" (official daily) carried straight 
reporting of the visit and indicated that Burns discussed 
international and regional developments including U.S.- 
Yemeni co-operation in the areas of security, counter- 
terrorism and development with the President. 
 
 
3.  Yemen TV conducted an exclusive interview with A/S Burns 
on October 4.  Questions focused on US aid to Yemen, the 
future of Palestine and the Road Map and US plans for Iraq 
and the Guantanamo prisoners.  The interviewer raised a 
question quoting Yemen's Prime Minister, Dr. Bajamal, who 
said in a recent interview with Reuters that the US is 
making impossible demands on Yemen in the war on terror and 
providing little aid in return.  A/S Burns disagreed with 
the Prime Minister and told Yemen TV that it was in the 
interest of Yemen to have secure borders and fight violent 
extremists threatening Yemen's economy.  Burns also added 
that Yemen benefited more than any other Arab country from 
the Middle East Partnership Initiative.  Yemen TV broadcast 
the interview in English with no Arabic subtitles. 
 
4. The bi-weekly English-language Yemen Times 10/06 
published excerpts of the Yemen TV interview with Burns.  It 
also covered his visits to the NGOs implementing programs 
funded by the US Embassy in Sana'a. 
 
5. Al-Sahwa.net of the Islamist Yemeni Congregation for 
Reform party (Islah) reported Sunday 10/05 that the visit 
was to discuss counter-terroris stating:  "The U.S. 
official's talks with President Saleh focused on the Yemeni 
government performance in counter-terrorism." 
 
6. "Annas" independent weekly 10/06, published an op-ed 
article commenting that A/S Burns's visit to Yemen aimed to 
put pressure on Yemen "to comply to more US demands at the 
level of security and in relation with the situations in 
Palestine and Iraq." 
HULL