US embassy cable - 04SANAA1578

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 001578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP/ECC - CROUCH; DOE FOR NNSA - LONGSWORTH; DOE 
FOR NNSA/RTR - WRIGHT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2014 
TAGS: KNNP, ENRG, KSTC, PARM, PREL, YM, IAEA 
SUBJECT: YEMEN'S NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (NATEC): 
"YEMEN WANTS TO BE A MODEL COUNTRY" 
 
REF: A. BAHRAN-ABRAHAM 6/1/2004 LETTER 
     B. LONGSWORTH-BAHRAN 3/31/2004 LETTER 
     C. SECSTATE 71639 
     D. 03 SANAA 2142 
     E. 03 SECSTATE 222302 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for reasons b, d and f 
 
1. (u)  This is an action request; see paragraphs 4-6. 
 
2. (c) Summary:  In a 6/23 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Yemen's National Atomic Energy Commission (NATEC) Director 
Moustapha Bahran renewed earlier requests for assistance on 
border security and radiological detection equipment 
(reftels).  Bahran initially cited alleged "promises" by the 
Departments of State and Energy, but when pressed by the 
Ambassador acknowledged that an agreement to cooperate does 
not equate to promises of specific deliverables.  While 
acknowledging that the May visit of a Radiological Threat 
Reduction (RTR) team was a positive step and that Yemen is 
not as high a priority as Eastern Europe, Bahran continued to 
push for increased cooperation on border security, 
specifically radiological detection equipment for key points 
of entry and technical training.  He suggested that Yemen 
could be a regional model on radiological safety/security and 
made a general offer to discuss assistance on 
non-proliferation issues with U/S Bolton.  End summary. 
 
DEBUNKING NATEC'S VIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY "PROMISES" - 
YEMEN AS A REGIONAL MODEL? 
 
3. (c) After some initial exchanges, Bahran launched into an 
explanation of his request for enhanced cooperation on border 
security and what he characterized as "promises" from the 
Department of Energy made during his July 2003 trip to 
Washington.  He provided a copy of his June 1 letter to 
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (ref a - see para. 7 for 
 
SIPDIS 
text) and said he is "pleading" with Secretary Abraham to 
move forward on borders.  Ambassador firmly suggested that 
Bahran should not say "promises have been made" when there is 
no documentation to support any official commitment and NATEC 
has not worked through the Embassy on the request.  Bahran 
pushed back, saying that his 2003 trip to the U.S. was 
coordinated through the Embassy and there was discussion of 
what commitments were made at that time.  (Note:  According 
to ref e, Bahran requested border monitoring equipment from 
NNSA and "DOE officials expressed interest in the request for 
joint cooperation and pledged to provide a formal answer 
pending prioritization of other Second Line of Defense 
projects."  A negative response was formally provided by 
reftel c, which Post provided to NATEC on April 3 and NATEC 
acknowledged receiving.) 
 
4. (c)  Ambassador explained that there is no record of 
specific commitments (ref e), and trying to make general 
expressions of support into something more does not encourage 
cooperation.  Bahran maintained that there were promises to 
help, but eventually acknowledged that there were not 
commitments to specific items.  He also said it is good to 
engage in dialogue and finally admitted that "for the sake of 
security" he may have let his expectations shape Washington's 
responses as promises.  Bahran reiterated his request for 
four radiological monitoring devices at four points of entry 
(Sana'a airport, Aden and Mukullah ports and the land border 
crossing at Haradh) that could cost upwards of $150,000 each. 
 Discussing Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear 
Security Administration Longsworth's March letter to NATEC 
(ref b), he and the Ambassador agreed that while Yemen is not 
as high a priority as Eastern Europe, it could possibly be a 
model for the region because there is value in setting a 
standard to increase security.  Bahran noted that the letter 
also promised a response to Yemen's request for a Memorandum 
of Understanding (ref d), and renewed his oft-repeated 
request for a U.S.-Yemen MOU to facilitate additional 
cooperation. 
 
NATEC DIRECTOR OFFERS PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR NON-PROLIFERATION 
 
5. (c) At the end of the meeting, Bahran requested 
Ambassador's help in arranging for him to talk to 
Undersecretary Bolton.  He said he is willing to play "any 
role allowed by the ROYG system" in aiding non-proliferation 
efforts.  Ambassador commented on the Arab world's 
"requirement" to focus on Israeli capabilities and asked how 
this would affect any role Bahran might play.  Bahran 
confirmed that this is a concern, but said he would be a 
strong advocate for practical approaches to non-proliferation 
and is open to discussion about what he can/cannot do. 
 
U.S. SUPPORT FOR YEMEN AS A REGIONAL MODEL? 
 
6. (c) Comment/action request: Once the issue of purported 
promises was sorted out, Dr. Bahran forcefully made the case 
that Yemen needs both equipment and technical assistance. 
While Yemen is not a high threat for supplying radiological 
materials for a "dirty bomb," it is a transit country for 
conventional weapons, especially to the Horn of Africa, and 
there is deterrent value in assisting to secure its borders. 
Post would therefore support such an effort to the extent it 
complements other counter-terrorism programs.  Accordingly, 
Post requests a response to Bahran's specific requests to the 
Department of Energy, as outlined in reftel a (see text in 
para. 8) with an eye toward using Yemen to set the standard 
for other Gulf countries.  End comment/action request. 
 
7. Begin text of NATEC-Secretary Abraham letter: 
 
(Official letterhead) 
 
Mr. Spencer Abraham 
Secretary 
 
SIPDIS 
Department of Energy 
            United States of America 
 
            June 1st 2004 
            No. 87/878/2004 
 
Subject:  Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources 
 
Dear Mr. Secretary of Energy, 
 
The National Atomic Energy Commission (NATEC) presents its 
compliments to you.  This is in reference to the letter 
received from Mr. Paul Longsworth, Deputy Administrator for 
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at NNSA, of March 12, 2004 
and the recent visit of the DOE team to Yemen during (16-19) 
May 2004 regarding the above subject.  NATEC appreciates the 
US government interest in assisting the Republic of Yemen in 
upgrading the safety and security of radioactive sources. 
 
It is well known that the Republic of Yemen has a strong 
interest in the safety and security of radioactive sources in 
the Republic of Yemen, the Region and the World at large. 
This is reflected when one takes a first hand look at the 
Yemeni National System of control of radioactive sources as 
well as Yemen's leading role in the international arena in 
bringing this issue to the attention of the world's 
community.  In particular, Yemen has been closely working 
with governments such as the US, the European, and the 
Australian governments in drafting and adopting by consensus 
all related IAEA GC resolutions for the last three years.  In 
fact NATEC has started its international effort on this very 
important subject one year prior to the 9/11 tragic events. 
 
This is based on our stated goal to be a model in this area 
not only in the region but also to become a universal model. 
In order to do that, we have been successful as far as 
establishing a strong control system of safety and security 
of radioactive sources in Yemen. Yet, we can not claim 
neither perfection, nor complete effectiveness.  The reason 
is that we still need to monitor and control our borders as 
far as radioactive sources are concerned. As of today we do 
not have a system in place controlling possible illicit 
trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. 
 
During visits, discussion, and letters we have asked the US 
government (State Department, DOE, NNSA and NRC) and the IAEA 
for help.  We have studied our priorities in this regard. We 
know what needs to be done.  What we need urgently is the 
following: 
 
  1 - Border radiation monitoring equipment (stationary and 
portable). 
  2 - Training of relevant personnel to carry out this task 
and maintain the equipment. 
 
Promises has (sic) been verbally made, but till today nothing 
has materialized.  Furthermore, I had the honor of sending 
you a proposed MOU, which was acknowledged by Mr. Longsworth, 
but I am still waiting for a positive answer.  The proposed 
MOU will create an umbrella through which strong partnership 
can be formalized. True, we are already partners, but this 
partnership is yet to be formalized. 
 
As much as I express gratitude for your excellent cooperation 
on this subject and many others to come, I believe that 
additional efforts are needed such that our common and noble 
goals can be realized. 
 
The National Atomic Energy Commission of the Republic of 
Yemen avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the 
Department of Energy of the United States of America the 
assurance of its highest consideration.  Thank you and please 
accept my best regards 
 
Yours Sincerely, 
 
Dr. Moustafa Bahran 
Science and Technology Advisor to the President of the 
Republic 
Chairman - National Atomic Energy Commission 
 
 
End text of NATEC-Secretary Abraham letter. 
 
HULL