US embassy cable - 05SANAA1884

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001884 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2006 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, MO, YE 
SUBJECT: MISREPORTED COMMENTS ON RISKS TO AMERICANS IN THE 
REGION 
 
REF: RABAT 01452 
 
Classified By: CDA NABEEL KHOURY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
1. (C) On June 29, CDA gave a wide ranging press interview in 
Arabic to a local website on bilateral U.S.-Yemeni relations, 
during the course of which he was asked if we thought 
Americans were at risk in Yemen. CDA responded that Americans 
were at risk throughout the region, from Yemen to Morocco, 
because of groups and networks that meant them harm and that 
Americans throughout the region are always advised to be 
careful. CDA's comment was not meant to single out any 
country's security conditions, but simply to say dangers 
existed throughout the region. The interview was carried by 
the daily "al-Jumhouriya" and on July 5 excerpted by UPI. 
Unfortunately, the local UPI stringer mistranslated the 
phrase "from Yemen to Morocco" to read, "especially in Yemen 
and Morocco." 
 
2. On July 9, Press Attach Rabat alerted us to the misquote 
in the Moroccan media which carried the UPI report. CDA 
replied on the same day indicating that he had apparently 
been misquoted. Moroccan Ambassador to Yemen approached CDA 
at our National Day reception on July 10 and inquired on the 
same report. CDA provided the next day the original 
transcript from the interview and posts' letter to UPI 
requesting a correction of the story. Moroccan ambassador 
expressed satisfaction with the information and explanation. 
 
3. Letter to UPI requesting a correction has been sent. all 
relevant material concerning this press report has been sent 
to Embassy Rabat. Regret concern caused to GOM, but will 
forward reply from UPI when received. 
Khoury