US embassy cable - 04SANAA877

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000877 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO NP, T AND EUR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2014 
TAGS: KNNP, MNUC, PREL, PARM, YM 
SUBJECT: PSI: REQUEST TO ENDORSE STATEMENT OF INTERDICTION 
PRINCIPLES DELIVERED 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 79456 
     B. 03 SANAA 2487 
     C. 03 SANAA 2260 
     D. 03 SECSTATE 272470 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Douglas Heisler for reasons 1.5 (b and d) 
 
1. (c) On April 12, Pol/Econ Chief met with Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs Director of the Two Americas Office 
Abdul-Malik Abdul-Ghani Saleh and his Deputy, Dirham al-Saidi 
to review the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) and request that 
the ROYG make a public statement of support for both in 
advance of the anniversary meeting in Krakow (ref a). 
Pol/Econ Chief provided an additional copy of the questions 
and answers on PSI (ref d) and reminded Saleh and al-Saidi 
that the previous director had assured her that the 
information on PSI was passed to the responsible parties in 
the foreign minister's office, the prime ministry, and the 
presidency (refs b and c).  Pol/Econ Chief also reiterated 
earlier requests for the ROYG's views on how the principles 
could be incorporated into counter-terrorism efforts, as well 
as whether there are legal or other impediments to supporting 
PSI or the SOP.  Saleh and al-Saidi did not provide any 
substantive comment, but requested the SOP in Arabic as soon 
as possible.  On April 13, however, al-Saidi called Pol/Econ 
Chief to confirm that the USG request had been forwarded to 
the Foreign Minister. 
 
2. (c) Neither Saleh nor al-Saidi were aware of the September 
2003 letter from the UK Ambassador to Yemen to FM Qirbi 
requesting that Yemen publicly support the PSI.  On April 14, 
Pol/Econ Chief spoke with British Ambassador Frances Guy, who 
confirmed that the UK has not received a response to either 
her September 14, 2003, meeting with FM Qirbi or the 
subsequent letter.  She said she followed-up with Deputy 
Foreign Minister for Europe, the Americas and International 
Organizations Mustapha Noman on February 11, but he has not 
yet delivered on his assurances to get her a response. 
 
3. (c) Comment:  The lack of any response, despite US efforts 
and UK appeals directly to the FM, indicates that Yemen may 
not be entirely comfortable with the PSI and its SOP.  Post 
will continue to work with our British counterparts and other 
G-8 partners, as appropriate, to seek Yemeni support for the 
initiative.  End comment. 
HULL