US embassy cable - 04SANAA1738

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001738 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2014 
TAGS: PARM, OPDC, PREL, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HULL'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT SALEH 
INCLUDING MANPAD DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 153028 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for reasons 1.5(b and d) 
 
1. (C) President Saleh received me July 20 for my farewell 
call.  In his remarks, he expressed satisfaction with 
US-Yemeni relations and particularly the progress on counter 
terrorism in Yemen over the past three years.  Saleh added 
appreciation for my efforts and acknowledged that he had at 
times been somewhat harsh in dealing with me. Yemen is a 
small poor country, he explained, and needed to use the 
American ambassador to send strong messages to a U.S. 
government that was preoccupied with important issues 
worldwide.  In turn, I thanked Saleh for his leadership on 
counter terrorism which had won the support of the Yemeni 
people, and I praised him for the positive steps taken 
towards establishing democracy in Yemen.  What remained to 
do, I stressed, was serious economic reforms that would 
provide effective government services, create jobs and reduce 
corruption. 
 
2. (C) Noting continuing government operations in Sa'ada 
against al Huthi, Saleh again made a plea for USG technology 
to locate al Huthi via his use of the telephone.  Al Huthi 
had conducted an extended interview with BBC July 19, Saleh 
noted.  Saleh also asked me to follow up on licenses for 
F5/C130 spare parts, expressing an understanding that the US 
military supply process was often a slow one. 
 
3. (C) I then provided Saleh with the Secretary's letter on 
manpads (reftel) and an Arabic translation of it.  Saleh 
perused the document and commented that the Yemeni military 
is currently confiscating many weapons, for example RPGs, 
from al Huthi's supporters.  I noted that the Secretary's 
focus was on manpads, and Saleh said he would study it 
carefully. 
 
4. (C) After being presented with the customary gift -- a 
Yemeni unity medal -- I took my leave. 
HULL