US embassy cable - 04SANAA506

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000506 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR HADLEY; STATE FOR NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, ECON, EAID, KISL, YM, DEMOCRATIC REFORM 
SUBJECT: FM QIRBI ON ARAB LEAGUE, GREATER MIDDLE EAST 
INITIATIVE, MCA AND OTHER TOPICS 
 
REF: A. SANAA 146 
 
     B. SANAA 498 
     C. SECSTATE 49816 
     D. SANAA 505 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for Reasons 1.5 (b,d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary: Ambassador called on ROYG Foreign Minister 
3/7 to discuss developments with Arab League reform and the 
Greater Middle East Initiative upon the FM's return from the 
Cairo AL ministerial.  Qirbi highlighted the drafting of a 
charter committing the Arab League to political and economic 
reform. On the GME Initiative, Qirbi said that some Arab 
governments were apprehensive while some were willing to 
consider points for "dialogue."  Qirbi had little to add on 
recent CT operations in Abyan (septel).  He welcomed 
information on Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). 
Ambassador also thanked FM for the ROYG condemnation the Iraq 
bombings and the Ministry's assistance in addressing 
Trafficking in Persons (TIP).  Also present were DCM and 
Acting Pol/Econ Chief (notetaker).  End Summary. 
 
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Arab League Reform; Greater Middle East Initiative 
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2.  (C)  Responding to the Ambassador's query on the meeting 
of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, FM Qirbi said intense 
debate occurred on "lots of issues," especially Arab League 
reform and how to proceed.  Qirbi said the important point 
was they agreed to draft a charter committing themselves to 
political and economic reform, including helping 
underdeveloped Arab countries.  Qirbi also noted they 
stressed the Arab commitment to Palestine.  The draft AL 
reform proposal from Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia was 
changed after discussions to a "balanced and stronger" 
version.  Qirbi said Arab leaders will designate foreign 
ministers to work on "substantial changes" to the Arab League 
charter, with proposals to be presented at the 2005 Algiers 
meeting.  Qirbi later told the Ambassador that the 
discussions on Iraq were "positive," with the Arab League 
exhorting Iraqis to pull together and move forward. 
 
3.  (C)  On the Greater Middle East Initiative, Qirbi said 
that some foreign ministers objected to it being brought up 
without being on the formal agenda.  Qirbi noted it was 
debated for two hours, with more discussion planned in Tunis. 
 He said some were apprehensive, while some feel that it 
should be considered to see which issues are relevant so that 
a dialogue can begin.  Qirbi noted two missing points that 
would have "made the Initiative more acceptable": 
Israel-Palestine and Iraq.  Ambassador noted U/S Grossman's 
recent consultations and FM Qirbi's discussions in 
Washington, particularly at the NSC, as part of a broader 
dialogue.  Ambassador raised the inclusion of the Sana'a 
Declaration (ref A) in the Under Secretary's remarks.  Qirbi 
joked that he never thought the Declaration would be passed 
(at the Sana'a Conference), noting that the European 
Commission had also adopted a resolution marking the 
Declaration as a basis for moving forward.  He encouraged the 
U.S. and Europe to work together with Arab governments. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Iraq Bombing Condemnation; Security Operations/ 
Renditions to Egypt; MCA; Trafficking in Persons; 
Upcoming Visitors 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
4.  (C)  Ambassador thanked Qirbi for ROYG statements 
condemning the attacks on Karbala and Baghdad (ref B). 
Having just returned from Cairo, Qirbi added little 
information about recent security operations by ROYG security 
forces in Abyan that arrested al-Naseeb and others (septel), 
only noting that arrests announced to be in relation to 
suspects related to the USS Cole gives the public "acceptable 
reasons" for arrests, hinting that the relationship to the 
Cole is not always accurate.  Ambassador noted the positive 
developments in Yemen and Egypt's security relationship as 
typified by the recent rendition of several suspects. 
 
5.  (C)  Ambassador passed report and talking points on 
Millennium Challenge Account (ref C) and noted the provision 
for governments to provide comments.  Ambassador said MCA was 
a priority, and Qirbi noted he had been briefed already by 
Yemen's Ambassador to the U.S. on the March 5 discussions. 
Ambassador thanked FM for the comprehensive cooperation 
provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ROYG 
ministries in addressing Trafficking in Persons (TIP). 
Ambassador noted TIP's importance and recognized the 
assistance of the Minister of Human Rights (ref D). 
Ambassador also mentioned possible upcoming USG visitors, 
including CJTF-HOA Brigadier General Robeson, CENTCOM General 
Abazaid and Arabian Peninsula U.S. Ambassadors. 
HULL