US embassy cable - 04SANAA2387

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002387 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, YM, KBIO, DOMESTIC POLITICS 
SUBJECT: PM BA JAMMAL (VAINLY) AFFIRMS HIS ROLE TO 
AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: SANAA 1537 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski; reasons 1.4 (b and d.) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In a 9/6 introductory call on Prime Minister 
Ba Jammal, Ambassador was treated to a wide-ranging and 
somewhat rambling review of Yemen's development obstacles and 
affirmed the ROYG's support for G8 reform initiatives.  Ba 
Jammal is widely rumored to be on his way out, but held court 
with the Ambassador and blatantly tried to show hewas still 
in control.  End summary. 
 
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PM Endorses BMENA; Seeks Help with Boarder Security 
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2. (C) Ba Jammal expressed support for the Broader Middle 
East and North Africa Initiative (BMENA) and explained that 
he will gather Foreign Minister Qirbi, Deputy Prime Minister 
and Minister of Finance Salami and Deputy Prime Minister and 
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Sofan 9/7 
to discuss Yemen's participation at upcoming G8 BMENA 
meetings.  Characterizing himself as pragmatic, Ba Jammal 
expressed a willingness to work with the U.S. and held forth 
with Ambassador and accompanying Emboffs on Yemen's history. 
Blaming Yemen's development challenges on late oil discovery 
-- some fifty years after the KSA, Ba Jammal also stated that 
Yemen's 150 year separation compounded Yemen's difficulties. 
Ba Jammal highlighted Yemen's long coast-line and newly 
demarcated borders as areas where security assistance is 
needed. 
 
3. (C) Attributing Yemen's stable financial situation to his 
own policies, Ba Jammal underscored Yemen's poverty, noting 
an annual 4 billion USD budget for a population of 20 
million, compared to oil-wealthy Gulf countries who have 
significantly smaller populations to support. (Comment: 
Deputy Prime Minister Salami is the architect of Yemen's 
monetary policy.  Ba Jammal reportedly interferes with and 
tries to derail Salami's fiscal initiatives. End Comment). 
Ba Jammal further identified himself as Yemen's lead drafter 
for the third poverty reduction strategy.  (Note: Ministry of 
Planning is believed to have lead on this project).  In 
closing, Ba Jammal, affirming that he was a Dewey pragmatist, 
reiterated his commitment to work with the U.S. in practical 
ways and expressed hope for closer cooperation between the 
two nations. 
 
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Bio Note: Prison, Former Oil Minister and Heart Surgery 
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4. (C) Bio note:  Explaining he recently returned from his 
annual check up, Ba Jammal openly discussed a single heart 
bypass surgery he underwent last summer in England.  Ba 
Jammal added that he suffered nerve damage from transporting 
heavy cement blocks while serving in prison with a hard labor 
sentence in the South during 1986-1990. As a result, he has 
lost 20-30 percent of feeling in his hands, is undergoing 
physiotherapy and may have to undergo surgery. 
 
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Ba Jammal's Last Gasp? 
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5. (C) Comment: Prime Minster Ba Jammal presented a strong 
but friendly face to Ambassador.  His claims of credit for 
policies that are his rivals' (i.e. fiscal stability and 
poverty reduction) indicate that Ba Jammal was anxious to 
appear in command.  Appearances aside, however, the 
Ambassador's first meeting with the Prime Minister could be 
the last.  Sanaa is rife with rumors that Ba Jammal will be 
sacked in the coming weeks for his involvement in the oil 
scandal (reftel).  A major cabinet reshuffling, which had 
been delayed, may be back on, perhaps to deflect attention 
from the ongoing ROYG involvement with al-Houthi.  If true, 
Ba Jammal may be the first to go, but a well-qualified former 
Southern Yemeni will have to be picked to take his place thus 
maintaining the Cabinet's careful balance between North and 
South.  End comment. 
KRAJESKI