US embassy cable - 05SANAA998

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000998 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ 
ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 
TAGS: AMGT, ASEC, PREL, PTER, EAC, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 20 APRIL 2005 
 
REF: A. SANAA 968 
     B. SANAA 955 
     C. SANAA 912 
     D. SANAA 896 
     E. SANAA 895 
     F. SANAA 891 
     G. SANAA 883 
     H. SANAA 882 
     I. SANAA 876 
     J. SANAA 875 
     K. SANAA 863 
     L. SANAA 860 
     M. SANAA 836 
 
Classified By: Classified by RSO Timothy Laas for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1.(S/NF) Begin Summary:  The Ambassador convened an EAC 
meeting on April 20, 2005 to review the current threat, 
ongoing security measures and discuss changes in travel 
restriction policies. Although there continues to be reports 
of violence in the Saada region, the RSO reported that Chief 
of Staff, Brigadier General Sunidar of the Ministry of 
Interior opined, earlier in the day, that the security 
environment was appropriate for resumption of travel 
throughout Yemen.  According to BG Sunidar, several persons 
suspected of being associated with Al-Huthi and the Saada 
insurrection had been arrested throughout Yemen.  As a result 
of the arrests, BG Sunidar stated his belief that grenade 
attacks will be less likely throughout the country.  The EAC 
agreed that current threat indicators point to a relatively 
safer environment and call for a relaxing of travel 
restrictions for embassy employees and the American 
community. However, 
the Ambassador cautioned that everyone should continue 
security measures recommended previously by the EAC to 
include variance of routes and routines. Key offices and 
personnel represented at the meeting included: AMB, DCM, DAT, 
FPD, IPC, MO, LEGATT, POLE, RMAS, OMC, RSO, CONS, PD and 
USAID. End Summary. 
 
 
2.    (S/NF) Regarding the threat assessment, RMAS advised 
that another key member of the group per REFTELs, involved in 
planning attacks against Americans had been arrested.  The 
RSO advised the EAC that during his conversation with BG 
Sunidar, the General stated that the threat which 
precipitated the closing of the American Embassy, was 
exaggerated and that no arrests had ever been made. 
Furthermore, BG Sunidar said that Yemen had never been safer. 
 (Comment:  The EAC expressed surprise that BG Sunidar 
believed no arrests had been made considering the fact that 
President Saleh advised Ambassador Krajeski earlier in the 
month, that arrests had been made. End Comment.) 
 
3.    (S/NF) The RSO advised the EAC that he met with several 
non-governmental organizations who have offices in Tourist 
City, located directly across from 
the Embassy.  The organization attending the meeting 
discussed their security concerns and solicited security 
advice from the RSO.  The committee agreed to form a more 
formal emergency action team that would meet periodically 
with the RSO in the future to ensure better security focus 
and received a commitment from the RSO to provide security 
surveys for their office spaces in the near future.  RSO 
noted that the NGO meeting included recommendations for: 
Perimeter security;  Upgrades in access control;  Guard 
training; and Security policy development. 
 
4.    (SBU) The Management Officer briefed the EAC on the 
difficulties involved with requests from embassy dependents 
who are requesting travel to other danger posts for their 
selected safe havens while on authorized departure status. 
A discussion followed on measures the embassy could take to 
obtain clarification on the matter, due to the fact that two 
dependents have requested alternative safe havens. 
 
5.    (S/NF) The EAC discussed whether or not to continue the 
security measures currently in place. The DCM pointed out 
that the British Embassy sent out a warden message recently 
that advised that, with the exception of the Saada area, they 
were relaxing travel restrictions in Yemen. The EAC agreed 
that due to the information available it did appear that the 
arrests of the persons planning attacks against Americans and 
the arrests of Al Huthi followers, has diminished the threat 
to Americans in country. The EAC unanimously agreed to relax 
travel restrictions for the embassy and to send out a warden 
message to that effect. The EAC agreed also to advise 
Americans to continue to practice good security measures of 
varying times and routes of travel. The EAC agreed to meet to 
discuss whether and when to request the lifting of authorized 
departure status during the next EAC meeting. 
6.     (SBU) The EAC decided to reconvene immediately 
following the Country Team Meeting at 1430 hours, on Sunday, 
April 24, 2005 to discuss the issues of 
authorized departure and the security situation. 
Krajeski