US embassy cable - 05SANAA264

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000264 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KDEM, KMPI, IZ, YM, ECON/COM, DEMOCRATIC REFORM 
SUBJECT: FM QIRBI TALKS ABOUT IRAQI ELECTIONS, MCC, AND 
PRESS FREEDOMS 
 
REF: SANAA 03 2863 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary. Ambassador discussed the Iraqi Elections, 
Yemen's MCC Threshold concept paper, and deterioration of 
Press Freedoms in Yemen.  End Summary. 
 
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Iraqi Elections 
--------------- 
 
2. (C) Qirbi called the Iraqi elections an important first 
step, commenting that "Yemen is in a position to welcome any 
democratic progress in the Arab World as part of reforms we 
started calling for in the region earlier than anyone else." 
Qirbi congratulated Iraqis for going to the polls, adding 
that he hoped those who lost the election would accept the 
results, but feared they will instead accuse the winners of 
rigging the elections.  Unfortunately, said Qirbi, the Arab 
experience with democracy demonstrates that "losers are not 
very sporty."  Ambassador responded that there is every 
indication the newly elected Parliament will include 
minorities in the task at hand -- drafting a new 
constitution. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador suggested that Yemen could play an 
important role by being vocal in its support for the 
political process in Iraq, and by supporting Iraq in regional 
institutions such as the Organization of Islamic States and 
Arab League.  Qirbi nodded, commenting that the best way for 
the USG to support unity in Iraq is by withdrawing coalition 
forces at the earliest opportunity.  This, he said, would 
rally those who did not participate in the vote around the 
new government. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
MCC Threshold: Improving the Investment Climate 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
4. (SBU) Ambassador congratulated Qirbi on the ROYG's 
submission of its Threshold concept paper to the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation.  He commended the ROYG's focus on 
improving Yemen's investment climate, calling it an important 
step in the country's economic reform effort.  Ambassador 
stressed the importance of upcoming ROYG decisions on key 
international tenders, particularly for management of the 
Aden Port.  A lot of eyes are on this process, said 
Ambassador, underscoring the importance of conducting a 
transparent process resulting in an award to a company of 
international reputation. 
 
5. (SBU) Qirbi agreed that improving the investment climate 
was the key to curing Yemen's economic ills.  "We cannot," he 
said, "continue to rely on aid and donors indefinitely." 
Instead, the FM called for a comprehensive ROYG approach to 
attract foreign investors, taking into account all factors -- 
security, rule of law, and corruption. 
 
------------------------------- 
Deteriorating Press Freedoms... 
------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Ambassador raised the recent deterioration of press 
freedoms in Yemen, sharing USG concerns with the FM over the 
number of arrests and prosecutions of journalists along with 
the closing of publications.  Pointing out that Yemen until 
recently had a reputation for expanding press freedoms, 
Ambassador warned that Yemen's standing in the international 
community was at risk over these actions to limit expression. 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
"...Security Trumps Human Rights" 
--------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) "We, like you, feel uncomfortable about actions 
limiting speech," said Qirbi.  Acknowledging the 
international community's increasing concern over cases like 
Khaiwani's (reftel). "However," he said, "the problem we face 
with outside observers is they look only at one side, our 
national security cannot be ignored."  The Foreign Minister 
explained that Yemen is a tribal society with religious 
differences.  Implying Khaiwani was imprisoned for supporting 
anti-American Shiite cleric al-Houthi, Qirbi said the 
al-Houthi rebellion is an example of the challenges the ROYG 
faces.  "If we are not firm in dealing with such groups -- 
the country's unity and survival would be jeopardized." 
 
8. (C) The Foreign Minister suggested that "perhaps the judge 
in the Khaiwani case was a bit severe in his ruling," adding 
that he personally thought so.  But, Qirbi continued, the 
case was handled according to the law.  "You cannot fairly 
say the government mismanaged the case, insisted Qirbi. "We 
have to stand by our legal system."  Qirbi said he preferred 
to focus on improving the law rather than on individual 
cases, pointing to ROYG efforts to work with the journalist's 
syndicate to reform the Press Law.  (Note: President Saleh 
called for prohibiting the imprisonment of journalists 
publicly months before Khaiwani's arrest.  End Note). 
 
9. (C) Comment: Our MFA interlocutors have been forthcoming, 
making clear to Emboffs their discomfort with the 
imprisonment of Khaiwani and others, and insinuating that the 
ROYG is in a dilemma of its own making.  "We have turned a 
mediocre editor into a Nelson Mandela, bemoaned Deputy FM 
Mustafa Noman on several occasions.  With the release of the 
2004 Human Rights Report's approaching, and Amnesty 
International calling for Khaiwani's release, the MFA is well 
aware that press freedom is likely to be a major issue in the 
near future.  The drafting of a new Press Law that prohibits 
imprisonment of the media for expression, called for by Saleh 
months before Khaiwani's arrest, may indeed be in the works. 
In the compartmentalized and non-transparent ROYG 
bureaucracy, Post has been unable to find any evidence that 
the committee created to reform the Press Law has actually 
begun its work.  According to members of the Yemen Press 
Syndicate, who described the new laws as a "big secret," they 
have not been allowed to participate in this process.  End 
Comment. 
Krajeski