US embassy cable - 04SANAA2437

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO PM A/S BLOOMFIELD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014 
TAGS: MASS, PREL, PTER, YM, PARMS, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: YEMEN AGREES TO SIGN MOU ON MANPADS BUYBACK 
 
REF: A. SANAA 2346 
     B. KHOURY-PEARTREE 9/8 E-MAIL 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Shayna Steinger for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (C) National Security Bureau Deputy Ammar Saleh confirmed 
to DATT, COS, and Pol/Econ Chief that the ROYG was ready to 
sign an MOU on the USG buyback and destruction of Yemeni 
MANPADS.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  Ammar informed emboffs that the President had given 
a green light to the USG MANPADS buyback and destruction 
initiative presented to him by visiting A/S Bloomfield on 
September 1 (ref A).  Ammar reiterated his request that A/S 
address a letter to President Saleh along with the MOU (ref 
B).  After some cajoling -- "we Yemenis have a tradition of 
verbal agreements" -- Ammar agreed that as the lead official 
on the MANPADS buyback initiative he would sign for the ROYG. 
 
3.  (S)  The NSB Deputy reported the ROYG has 1435 systems in 
the al-Sabaha storage facility (visited by A/S Bloomfield 
August 31) and that the systems could be inspected by U.S. 
experts on September 28.  In order to receive USG funds, he 
agreed to set up a commercial bank account that afternoon 
(Note: The necessary information to complete an international 
wire transfer will be provided to post by Ammar in the next 
few days.  End Note). 
 
KRAJESKI