US embassy cable - 05SANAA1346

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001346 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KAWC, PHUM, KMPI, ECON 
SUBJECT: FM DISCUSSES KORAN DESECRATION, PRESS LAW, SALEH 
VISIT 
 
REF: A. SANAA 1311 
 
     B. SANAA 1054 
     C. SANAA 1301 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  On May 18 Ambassador met with Foreign 
Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi.  Discussions centered on the 
release of a Yemeni detainee from GTMO (ref A), ROYG response 
to Koran desecration allegations, Ambassador's canceled 
meeting with Yemeni journalists, and Saleh's proposed visit 
to Washington. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
ROYG Response to Koran Desecration Allegations 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (C) Ambassador thanked Qirbi for his controlled response 
to allegations that Guantanamo interrogators desecrated the 
Holy Koran, praising his measured and objective public 
response for helping to prevent the sort of violent public 
reaction seen in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  He ensured Qirbi 
that even with Newsweek's retraction, the USG continues to 
take the issue very seriously, and intends to investigate any 
such allegation thoroughly.  Ambassador added that the USG 
considers the desecration of any religious text to be an 
abhorrent act. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Concerns over Embassy's Relationship with Press 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
3. (C)  Pulling Ambassador aside for a one-on-one, Qirbi 
expressed ROYG concern over Ambassador's May 14 scheduled 
meeting with 14 leading Yemeni journalists and ROYG officials 
to discuss a draft amendment to Yemeni press law (ref B). 
The meeting was canceled shortly before it was to take place, 
when Saleh convoked Ambassador (ref C).  Ambassador stressed 
that the canceled meeting was intended to be a forum to 
address media issues including press freedoms and the new 
press law.  (Comment: Saleh is very sensitive about Embassy 
contacts with the press and follows personally meetings 
between even junior EmbOffs and journalists.  Without jumping 
to conclusions, President Saleh did not raise any new or 
immediate issues in the last minute May 15 meeting he called 
with Ambassador that led to the cancellation of Ambassador's 
meeting with the press syndicate.  At the end of the meeting, 
Saleh told Ambassador that he was aware of the press lunch 
and the Ambassador's need to return to the Embassy.  When 
Ambassador said he had to cancel the lunch, Saleh only 
smiled.  End Comment.) 
 
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Saleh's Proposed Visit to Washington 
------------------------------------ 
 
4. (C) Ambassador confirmed to the FM that the White House 
still hopes to schedule President Saleh's visit for late 
September, before the beginning of Ramadan, but that the 
Presidency should also keep in mind late November as an 
alternative.  Qirbi expressed his desire to work closely with 
the Ambassador on the key bilateral issues in the run-up to 
the visit.  Ambassador agreed that thorough preliminary work 
on issues including counter-terrorism, controlling SA/LW, 
economic and democratic reform, and the protection of human 
rights would maximize the effectiveness of the meeting. 
Krajeski