US embassy cable - 04SANAA2942

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2014 
TAGS: PBTS, PREL, MOPS, ER, YM 
SUBJECT: VP HADI SHARES ROYG CONCERNS ABOUT ERITREA 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reason 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary. Vice President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi 
convoked Ambassador on November 23 to express ROYG concerns 
over a November 21 exchange of gunfire between Yemeni troops 
and four suspected Eritrean military boats off the Yemeni 
Hunaish Islands.  Hadi pressed Ambassador for information on 
what the USG knew of the incident, and of a potential 
Eritrean military build-up off the Eritrean coast. 
Ambassador responded by stressing the importance of continued 
USG-ROYG military cooperation, and said that the USG would do 
all it could to maintain calm in the area.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) On November 23 Ambassador, accompanied by DATT, COMC, 
and Pol/EconOff (notetaker) met with Yemeni Vice President 
Abu Rabbu Mansour Hadi at the Ministry of Defense.  Hadi 
expressed ROYG concern over a November 21 incident involving 
three to four small, unidentified military boats fired on by 
Yemeni troops as they approached the island of Greater 
Hunaish.  (Note: Yemen and Eritrea almost went to war over 
the Hunaish Islands in 1995.  The USG played a vital role in 
allaying tensions between the two nations. End Note). Hadi 
also said that one or two unidentified, military capable 
helicopters have twice approached the island since the 
incident.  He asked if the USG knew the identity of the 
helicopters and boats. (Note: Hadi expressed suspicion that 
one of the helicopters was on a French reconnaissance 
mission.  The French did not reply to a ROYG inquiry on the 
matter. End Note). 
 
3. (C) DATT told the VP that on November 22 he asked the 
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) about 
the incident. CJTF-HOA confirmed that a French ship fifty 
kilometers north of the island aided a small Eritrean 
military boat with nine passengers on board.  The nine 
passengers, who requested water, food and fuel, admitted to 
stealing the boat from Eritrea, claiming they were destined 
for Saudi Arabia.  DATT said he too suspected the other boats 
were Eritrean, but could not confirm this.  There were no 
U.S. or Coalition reports of aircraft sighted in the vicinity 
of the Islands. 
 
4. (C) Hadi told Ambassador the ROYG was concerned about a 
suspected military build up of 10,000 troops at Ras Therma, 
Eritrea.  Ambassador replied that he had no knowledge of such 
a buildup, but that the USG would continue to focus on 
maintaining calm in the area.  Hadi emphasized the 
sensitivity of the Hunaish Islands to the ROYG.  The ROYG 
acted in full compliance with international law, said the VP, 
as well as with the utmost restraint.  Hadi expressed ROYG 
frustration with Eritrea's behavior, referring to it as a 
"thawra" (revolution) rather than "dawla" (country), "They 
fight with everyone," he quipped. 
 
5. (C) Hadi attributed the ROYG,s ability to act with 
restraint to its military cooperation with the USG in the 
Bab-al-Mandab straits, confiding that the ROYG does not fully 
monitor its coast due to confidence in the U.S. presence in 
HOA.  He asked that the USG exert pressure on Eritrea to 
provide liaison officers to CJTF-HOA, and to act within 
internationally recognized standards.  Ambassador assured the 
VP that he would express his concerns to Washington and 
CJTF-HOA in Djibouti. 
 
6. (C) Comment: A plausible explanation for the incident is 
that the stolen military boat was being pursued by the 
Eritrean military, which therefore came close to the Hunaish 
Islands.  The meeting with Hadi, and particularly the urgency 
with which it was called, underscores the fragility of the 
ROYG's relations with Eritrea, and the mistrust that 
prevails.  End Comment. 
KRAJESKI