US embassy cable - 04SANAA1166

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, AL, IZ, YM 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S 5/12 MEETING WITH FM QIRBI:  WEF 
AMMAN; ARABIC LEAGUE ATTITUDES TOWARD REFORM; POSSIBLE ARAB 
FORCE DEPLOYMENT IN IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: AMB Edmund J. Hull for reasons 1.5 (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Ambassador called on FM Qirbi 5/12 to urge 
his attendance at WEF Amman and discuss AL attitudes toward 
reform post-Cairo and pre-Tunis.  Qirbi will not/not attend 
WEF Amman.  Yemen will be represented by DFM Mustafa Noman, 
who has been a receptive interlocutor on GMEI and warrants 
some USG attention.  Qirbi sees the AL moving toward a 
posture generally receptive to U.S. and G8 reform ideas, and 
believes deployment of Arab forces in Iraq is possible if 
certain conditions are met.  End Summary. 
 
--------------- 
DFM Noman to Head Yemeni Del at WEF Amman 
--------------- 
 
2. (C) Ambassador Hull called on FM Abubaker al-Qirbi 12 May 
to urge the Minister's attendance at WEF Amman.  Qirbi said 
he had received an invitation from Jordanian FM Muasher but 
will not/not attend.  He will send DFM Mustafa Noman to 
represent Yemen.  (Comment: Noman, Yemen's former Ambassador 
to Canada, is a polished, thoughtful interlocutor.  He has 
taken the lead in MFA discussions with us on GMEI, taking a 
constructive, upbeat attitude.  In fact, Noman is engaged 
with Yemeni intellectuals outside the ROYG who are advocating 
reform ideas consistent with GMEI concepts.  Post recommends 
that the U.S. delegation engage with Noman as a favorably 
disposed interlocutor.  End comment.) 
 
--------------- 
AL Attitudes on Reform: Evolving Positively 
--------------- 
 
3. (C) Qirbi provided a detailed readout of discussions at 
the Cairo AL ministerial, characterizing it overall as 
"constructive."  There was of course much discussion of Iraq, 
including negative focus on the prison abuse scandal and 
speculation on nature of the 6/30 handover of sovereignty. 
On the issue of reform, in particular, he sees Arab attitudes 
moving toward acceptance of concepts included in the now 
widely circulated U.S. and G8 papers.  Despite Saudi and 
other objections to positive references to multi-party 
systems and some petty wordsmithing --  e.g. substitution of 
the Arabic word "tatwir" (lit: to cause to develop/evolve) in 
place of "islah," the usual Arabic term for reform; agreement 
to combine the word "democracy" with the Arabic term "shura" 
(lit: "consultation"); and substitution of "NGOs" for "civil 
society" -- Qirbi said he saw increasing receptiveness to the 
principle of reform.  Syria conspicuously rowed against this 
tide, but did not succeed in efforts to dilute favorable 
draft communiqu language on the Sanaa and Alexandria 
Declarations by adding mention of SARG-sponsored meetings on 
the role of women in Syria.  The AL summit in Tunis is 
tentatively set for 5/22-23, although Qirbi noted that it was 
unlikely Saleh would be able to attend in that timeframe 
because Yemen's National Day is May 22. 
 
--------------- 
Arab Troops in Iraq: Possible Under Certain Conditions 
--------------- 
 
4. (C) Qirbi said there was extensive discussion of possible 
deployment of Arab troops in Iraq.  There was acceptance of 
the concept, with emphasis on defining preconditions.  There 
was loose consensus on several points: (a) no troops from 
any/any of the countries neighboring Iraq; (b) must be within 
framework of a UN mandate; and (c) command must be acceptable 
-- i.e. not subordinate to non-Arab commander. 
HULL