US embassy cable - 04SANAA477

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000477 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S/CT, DS, EUR, AND NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2012 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PGOV, FR, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: NO NEW SECURITY THREAT IN YEMEN; FRENCH NOT CLOSING 
 
REF: ROBERTS/MISENHEIMER TELCON 3/1/04 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  French DCM told DCM 3/2 that media reports 
of French diplomatic closure in Sanaa due to new local 
security threats are in error.  The recent Zawahiri audiotape 
prompted Paris to advise French embassies worldwide to review 
security.  In Yemen, this instruction prompted an ongoing 
review of French sites and several prudent security upgrades. 
 French DCM praised responsiveness of Ministry of Interior. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) DCM called on French DCM Jean Louis Rysto 3/2 to 
discuss media reports that French had closed Embassy, 
Cultural Center and/or the French School in response to new 
security threats in Yemen.  Rysto informed DCM that all such 
reports are entirely/entirely in error, and explained current 
security-related steps taken by the French mission. 
 
3. (C) According to Rysto, the recently circulated audiotape 
attributed to al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri included 
expressions of hostility to French interests in connection 
with the hejab controversy in French schools.  In response, 
said Rysto, Paris sent a cable to nearly all its embassies 
worldwide advising of the Zawahiri statement and ordering 
security review and adjustment as needed.  He stressed that 
France had no/no information whatsoever on any new threat 
specific to Yemen.  The Zawahiri statement was not 
geographically specific. 
 
4. (C) Upon receipt of the cable from Paris, the French 
Ambassador met urgently with Interior Minister Alimi on 2/27. 
 Follow-on contacts, including a joint visit by French 
embassy representatives and MOI officials to main French 
sites (embassy, ambassador,s residence, French Cultural 
Center, French Center for Social Studies (CFES), and the 
French School) on 2/29, led to installation of additional 
concrete traffic barriers and deployment of additional Yemeni 
security personnel at the sites. 
 
5. (C) In order to facilitate the security review, the School 
released students 3 days early for a scheduled holiday.  It 
will reopen as scheduled on 3/13.  In the meantime, 
additional on-site security measures will be put in place. 
Rysto considers the French School particularly exposed, as it 
adjoins several busy downtown streets (in contrast to the 
American-curriculum Sanaa International School, which is in 
an isolated suburb and has excellent setback and perimeter 
patrols). 
 
6. (C) Similarly, the French Cultural Center is closed and 
will reopen later this week.  The Cultural Center will close 
during April and relocate to a more secure property, a move 
already in preparation before the Zawahiri message.  Neither 
the embassy nor CFES has closed at all.  Rysto expressed 
frustration that CFES staff focus on academic/cultural 
outreach and resent any security restrictions, but noted that 
they will be compelled to accept at least some on-site 
security measures. 
 
7. (C) A separate meeting between DATT and his French 
counterpart, and telcon between P/E Chief and French consular 
assistant, elicited parallel accounts of the French security 
review. 
 
8. (C) Comment: While not keyed to any local threat 
information, the security moves being undertaken by the 
French are prudent and reasonable.  Their facilities all lack 
setback and previously had minimal perimeter security.  In 
fact, Rysto noted that French Ambassador Moureau had chosen 
to play up the worldwide caution from Paris in order to "send 
a signal" to the ROYG -- i.e. to obtain greater security 
attention from the MOI -- and to Paris -- to show that the 
recently arrived ambassador is taking security seriously.  He 
deemed the measure successful, as the MOI has acted quickly 
to provide additional security support. 
HULL