US embassy cable - 05SANAA1587

S E C R E T SANAA 001587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO PM/JSHAUNFIELD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, MASS, PTER, IZ, YM, DEMARCHE, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: DFM NOMAN DISCUSSES ROYG PRESENCE IN BAGHDAD, 
SA/LW PROLIFERATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 107980 
     B. SANAA 564 
 
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.5 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary. DCM met with Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa 
Noman on June 12 to deliver ref A demarche on increasing ROYG 
diplomatic presence in Baghdad.  Discussions also focused on 
proliferation of Yemen small arms and light weapons (SA/LW) 
and President Saleh's upcoming visit to Washington.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (C) DCM delivered ref A demarche to Deputy Foreign 
Minister Mustafa Noman on June 13.  He praised the ROYG's 
continuing support for the new Iraqi government, but stressed 
the importance of an increased Arab diplomatic presence in 
Baghdad, especially in fostering Sunni participation in 
drafting the new constitution.  Noman expressed the ROYG's 
willingness to support Iraq, but said that security concerns 
prevent any increase in presence beyond the single low-level 
MFA official currently in Baghdad.  Noman said the lone 
representative is "scared to death" and that the MFA is 
unlikely to find anyone else willing to accept this 
"dangerous posting."  DCM suggested, and Noman agreed to 
consider,  an alternative demonstration of ROYG support for 
the new Iraqi government---that President Saleh appoint an 
Ambassador to Iraq but place in Jordan on a temporary basis 
or simply defer sending to Baghdad pending improvement of 
security conditions. 
 
3. (S) DCM expressed concern that the ROYG is not taking 
seriously its SA/LW commitments to the U.S.  It appears, 
continued DCM, that the Ministry of Defense is "playing the 
same old game," with regard to the role of third party arms 
dealers in procurement.  DCM warned Noman that the USG would 
not look the other way if officially procured weapons keep 
disappearing from government stocks.  "We are and will 
continue to monitor the situation closely," DCM told Noman, 
assuring him that Yemen SA/LW will be a major topic during 
Saleh's visit to Washington. 
 
4. (S) Noman relayed a recent conversation with Saleh, saying 
he informed the President that any hopes of securing 
additional USG support during his upcoming visiting are 
predicated on SA/LW action.  Noman told the DCM that he 
believes Saleh is serious about tackling the problem of 
Yemeni SA/LW, but that some slippage from official 
procurements, particularly in the early days of the new 
policy, is inevitable.  Noman promised to raise the issue 
again with Saleh during a June 15 meeting. 
 
5. (S) Comment: Even if Saleh is fully committed to his 
pledge (ref B), Noman noted MOD reluctance to accept USG 
inventory system assistance as a major roadblock.  NSB (de 
facto) Chief Ammar Saleh told Pol/Econ Chief June 7 that 
Saleh had already given MOD the green light on inventory 
assistance, but that continues to stall.  Saying that 
ignorance on the part of the MOD about the assistance is 
hindering progress, Noman suggested sending three to four 
ROYG military officers to the U.S. to learn more about the 
proposed system.  In post's view, MOD knows all too well what 
the inventory system means - accountability.  Still, a close 
look at how a modern inventory system works might be a good 
first step toward convincing the ROYG to adopt one.  Post 
will be communicating further on this with PM Bureau and DOD. 
 End Comment. 
Krajeski