US embassy cable - 04SANAA671

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SANAA 000671 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, YM 
SUBJECT: ROYG PAPERS ON GMEI AND IRAQ/ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT 
FOR ARAB SUMMIT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for Reasons 1.5 (b,d) 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 6. 
 
2. (C) ROYG Foreign Minister convoked Ambassador on 3/22 to 
pass for USG comment two papers on Iraq/Israel-Palestine and 
the Greater Middle East Initiative (full text paras 7 and 8, 
originals faxed to NEA/ARP) developed by the ROYG for the 
Arab Summit .  Qirbi recalled his February 2004 discussions 
in Washington and Tampa during which American officials 
expressed interest in Arab initiative in these areas.  Qirbi 
asked for any feedback before departing for Tunis 3/24 (see 
action request para 6).  He said he had shared both documents 
with Saudi Prince Saud al-Faisal during his visit to Sana'a 
3/21-22, and that the Prince's suggestions for modifications 
were taken into account. 
 
----------------------------- 
Arab Summit Draft Resolution 
on the Middle East Initiative 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Qirbi said the ROYG prepared a draft resolution for 
the Arab Summit not just on the GMEI but on "all reform 
initiatives."  He noted two other draft reform resolutions 
from Jordan and Egypt.  The ROYG's position tracks closely 
with Jordan's.  Qirbi said Arab governments must address the 
reform issue and not shy away from it.  Full translated text 
of reform resolution is in paragraph 7.  In brief, Qirbi 
highlighted the following: 
 
-- leaders should address issue of modernization in Arab 
world, including reform, public participation and democracy; 
 
-- references made to the Sana'a Declaration and other 
reform-oriented conferences in Doha, Manama, Amman and 
Alexandria (Comment:  MEPI-sponsored conferences); 
 
-- the role of the Arab League in reforms; 
 
--  reforms should take place all over the Arab world and not 
just in a few countries; 
 
-- participation from both governments and the public 
important; 
 
-- reforms should include economic, good governance 
(including civil society), institution building, education. 
Other issues to address include achieving peace in the Middle 
East, freeing Middle East from Weapons of Mass Destruction 
(WMD) and fighting terrorism. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
Draft Yemeni Initiative to Restore Security and Stability 
of Iraq and Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
4. (C) When Ambassador asked Qirbi's opinion on the 
Transitional Administrative Law, Qirbi said it was "very 
good" with the exception of the right of any three 
governorates to veto measures which could counter the wishes 
of the majority.  Full translated text of Iraq and 
Arab-Israel resolution is in paragraph 8.  In brief, Qirbi 
only highlighted the following regarding Iraq: 
 
-- a tri-partite group should be established to set up a road 
map for Iraq, to include United Nations, Arab League and 
Coalition members, with representatives from the Iraq 
Governing Council;  The plan should include the following: 
 
-- the unity of Iraq must be maintained; 
 
-- security should be established by an international force 
under the United Nations; 
 
-- occupying forces should leave the cities; 
 
-- a General Assembly should be established to develop the 
constitution and election law (that should include a 
provision that parties should not be established along 
religious or ethnic grounds); 
 
-- Iraqi security forces must be established. 
 
---------------------- 
Comment/Action Request 
---------------------- 
 
5. (C) Comment: The ROYG appears to be trying to find a 
constructive position on both reform and Iraq/Arab-Israel 
conflict to present at the Arab Summit.  Regarding reform, 
Yemen has benefited from MEPI and feels less threatened by 
reform than some other Arab governments because the Yemeni 
experience with political parties, elections, etc. has been 
largely positive.  End Comment. 
6.  (C)  Action Request:  If Department would like Post to 
provide any comments to the ROYG regarding its resolution 
(para 6), please provide points prior to FM Qirbi's departure 
for Tunis early on 3/24. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Full Text of Arab Summit Draft Resolution 
on the Middle East Initiative 
----------------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  Informal translation of full text of draft reform 
resolution follows. 
Republic of Yemen 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
 
Arab Summit Draft Resolution on the Middle East Initiative 
Tunisia, March 29-30, 2004 
 
-- From our belief in the importance of modernizing and 
developing the mechanism of joint Arab work that will achieve 
comprehensive and balanced development for all Arab states. 
 
-- And emphasizing our conviction that the Arab reform 
process is a whole that cannot be split and a common 
responsibility of the rulers and peoples and that all 
official and public efforts, therefore, must be incorporated 
to accomplish the reform and provide an awakening Arab 
atmosphere that brings about prosperity and development and 
preserve the identity and faith of the Arab nation. 
 
-- And from our belief that reforms must spring from the will 
and conviction of the people and that the people's 
peculiarities must be taken into consideration in order to 
achieve the required results represented by justice, freedom, 
democracy, public participation, activating the role of women 
and construction of a knowledge society. 
 
-- Conviction that dealing with political problems in the 
Middle East through observance of international legitimacy 
resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, liberation of 
occupied Arab territories, the Iraqi issue, and to avoid 
implementing double standards as is the case of possession of 
WMD - all these form an entryway for the success of reform 
steps in the region. 
 
-- Starting from these all, and according to the clear Arab 
position towards reform and democratic practice and human 
rights which Sanaa Declaration has embodied, and the results 
of conferences that were conducted in Amman, Manama, Doha and 
Alexandria regarding democracy, freedom and reform, we decide: 
 
1. To activate the role of the Arab League as a tool for Arab 
joint work, make the necessary amendments to its charter so 
that it will carry out its role in forming equivalent 
Arab-Arab relations, and lead the reform process in parallel 
steps in all Arab countries through official and public 
contributions, issuing of conventions and agreements that 
promote the democratic and human rights tracks and make their 
protection a common Arab responsibility. 
 
2.  To set and implement a complete Arab strategy for reforms 
with the public participation and free will that spring from 
the aspirations of the peoples of the region, which will 
accomplish minimum social movement for reform, considering 
values, traditions, religious teachings and civilization 
values. 
 
3.  To carry out economic reforms that will lead to the 
enhancement of the common interests between Arab countries 
through stepping gradually from Greater Arab Trade Zone, to 
the Customs Union, to Arab Common Market, liberating markets, 
establishment of development, investment and compensation 
funds for the accomplishment of comprehensive economical and 
development merger in all Arab countries.  Participant 
countries also called on to encourage this direction and to 
dedicate the necessary support for it in addition to what the 
Arab states are offering. 
 
4.  To make a foundation for peoples, participation through 
forms of revival process within the framework of gradualness, 
reality and transparency, and giving the citizens the right 
for freedom of speech, establishing civil society 
organizations, activation of women,s role in development and 
granting her all political and social rights in a way that 
doesn't conflict with the traditions and the true religious 
teachings. 
 
5.  To work towards developing the institution building of 
the state, the right governance, separation of authorities, 
accountability, and the assurance of judiciary independence. 
6.  To take the necessary steps that ensure building the 
knowledge society, promoting the educational systems, and 
eliminating the obstacles that hinder the Arab world from 
coping with the knowledge process or that which led to wrong 
understandings of dealing with the others, along with the 
emphasis on tolerant Islamic values that call for freedom, 
justice, and respect of others beliefs. 
 
7.  To continue the efforts that aim to realize the just 
comprehensive peace in the Middle East region, through 
adhering to the Arab Peace Initiative, the Road Map, and 
international resolutions.  Work with the international 
society for eliminating tension and violence from the region 
by solving the Palestinian issue in accordance with the 
treaties and resolutions that call for the establishing two 
states, Palestinian and Israeli that live side by side in 
peace and with total sovereignty and means of existence. 
Also ending the occupation of the Syrian and Lebanese lands 
and ending the occupation of Iraq through working with the 
United Nations and Coalition powers and the Iraqi temporary 
Authority, considering that solving these problems will 
result to the stability of the region and will lead its 
energies toward construction and development. 
 
8.  To work for making the Middle East region free of weapons 
of mass destruction and compliance of all states, including 
Israel, to the signing of the agreement of nuclear weapons, 
because elimination of such weapons enhances elimination of 
elements of doubt and fear among states of the region. 
 
9.  Commitment of all Arab states with the international 
community in combating terrorism with the necessity to deal 
with its reasons and differentiation between terrorism and 
legitimate resistance to occupation. 
 
10.  Arab Foreign Ministers Council is assigned to make plans 
and mechanism for achieving these objectives to be presented 
to the Summit of 2005 for approval. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Full Text of Draft Yemeni Initiative to Restore 
Security and Stability of Iraq and 
Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
8. (C) Informal translation of full text of draft initiative 
follows. 
 
Yemeni Initiative to Restore Security and Stability of Iraq 
and Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict 
 
First:  The Iraqi Crisis: 
 
1. Forming a tripartite committee including the United 
Nations, the Arab League and the Coalition Forces along with 
the Iraqi Governing Council.  The committee will be 
responsible for setting up a road map for Iraq.  The plan 
will be as follows: 
 
(a)   Guarantee of the unity of Iraqi territories, 
confronting any secessionist tendencies, the withdrawal of 
all foreign forces from Iraq and putting an end to 
occupation. 
 
(b)   Setting up a security plan to restore security and 
stability of Iraq and sending international forces to Iraq 
under the supervision of the United Nations and the Arab 
League. 
 
(c)   The withdrawal of occupation forces to camps outside of 
the Iraqi cities upon the arrival of the international 
forces. 
 
(d)   Forming a national society representing all sects and 
races in order to formulate the Iraqi constitution under the 
supervision of the above-mentioned tripartite committee and 
conduct general elections within the period of a year.  For 
the elections, there must be an elections law that rejects 
the establishment of any political parties based on race, 
religion or sect and gets all political parties to represent 
all the people of Iraq in order to ensure the creation of a 
democratic, united and independent Iraq. 
 
(e)   Reformation of army and security forces according to a 
patriotic basis with no doctrinal or racial loyalties.  All 
of this process must be finalized during a period of two 
years and end with the withdrawal of the occupation forces 
and the retention of the international forces. 
 
Second:  The Arab-Israeli Conflict: 
 
The reinvigoration of the Quartet,s role in implementing the 
Road Map in order to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict, 
joining of the Arab League in the Quartet and considering the 
Arab Peace Initiative a complementary part of the Road Map 
provided that the Committee performs the following: 
 
1.  Sending international forces to separate Israelis and 
Palestinians according to the borders of June 5, 1967. 
 
2.  Requesting both the Israeli and the Palestinian parties 
to stop violence and announce a truce stipulated by a United 
Nations Security Council resolution and in a way that leads 
to the implementation of the Road Map, the commitment to the 
relevant United Nations Security Council,s resolutions in 
particular resolutions Nos. 242 and 338 and the establishment 
of the Palestinian State based on the borders of June 5, 
1967. 
 
3.  The announcement of an Arab decision stipulating the 
unity of the Palestinian factions under a united leadership 
formed of all parties. 
 
4.  Making efforts to remove the racist separation wall. 
 
5.  Launching the process of reconstruction of Palestine with 
all its organizations and in particular the security 
organizations. 
 
6.  The withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Syrian and 
Lebanese territories in the framework of a timeline plan and 
Arab-Israeli agreement that ensures both Arab and Israel 
rights. 
 
7.  Committing to the announcement of Middle East Region 
being free from weapons of mass destruction and placing a 
plan to eliminate them from all the regions countries 
including Israel. 
 
8.  Holding a peace conference for the Region States after 
the announcement of establishing the Palestinian State and 
the removal of the weapons of mass destruction from the 
region and the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab 
territories. 
HULL