US embassy cable - 05SANAA1907

S E C R E T SANAA 001907 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, OVIP, PTER, PARM, YM, DOMESTIC POLITICS, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: FM QIRBI DISCUSSES HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO 
WASHINGTON WITH CHARGE 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary. In a July 13 meeting with CDA, Foreign 
Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi confirmed his plans to travel to 
Washington in advance of President Saleh's November meeting 
with President Bush.  Qirbi pulled CDA aside and confided 
President Saleh,s concerns over U.S. Embassy contacts with 
members of the Islamist opposition party as well as the 
President's ability to deliver on his SA/LW promises. Qirbi 
expressed his own concern on fighting corruption, asking us 
to lead the European embassies in a full-court press on the 
issue.  End Summary. 
 
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FM Calls For More "Frank" Discussion on CT Cooperation 
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2. (C) FM Qirbi expressed satisfaction with bilateral 
relations, saying he looked forward to using the visit to 
assess current problems and explore ways to strengthen 
cooperation, particularly in the area of counterterrorism. 
"We should do better," said the FM, calling for a "more frank 
discussion" on CT issues.  CDA applauded Qirbi's efforts to 
improve coordination, something that the USG has been trying 
to achieve with the ROYG for some time. 
 
3. (C) In terms of specific meetings, CDA informed Qirbi that 
post had yet to receive confirmation of Secretary Rice's 
availability, but would notify him when a response was 
received. (Note: CDA relayed to MFA on July 16 that the 
Secretary would indeed be able to meet with the FM during his 
 
SIPDIS 
visit.  End note). 
 
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Off The Record 
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4. (S) After the discussion of the visit, Qirbi asked 
notetakers to leave and raised the following concerns with 
CDA: 
 
 -- President Saleh was concerned, said Qirbi, about Embassy 
contacts with Islamist oppositionists. Qirbi asked if we 
could reassure the President on the purpose of these 
meetings. CDA replied that our contacts are with Islamists 
are limited to Yemen,s legal opposition, the Islah party, 
whose leader is the Speaker of Parliament -- hardly an 
underground opposition.  CDA asked Qirbi to reassure the 
President that those contacts aim to support democracy and 
encourage dialogue among the various legal parties in the 
country and did not constitute in any shape or from a threat 
or challenge to the President. Qirbi said that he understood 
and agreed, but that the President needed to be constantly 
reassured on that score. 
 
 -- Corruption: Qirbi wanted CDA to know that he shared the 
opinion of other liberal-minded Yemenis that an 
anti-corruption campaign was essential for Yemen,s 
development.  He complimented CDA on his recent stress on 
corruption in discussions with Ministry of Planning and other 
ROYG officials, suggesting that we encourage European 
Embassies and the World Bank to also be very serious on that 
front. "The U.S. should lead the Europeans and the 
international organizations here in pushing this agenda in 
Yemen," said the FM. 
 
 -- SA/LW: Qirbi confided that the ROYG was having trouble 
implementing its promises to end the arms trade and stem the 
flow of illicit SA/LW into and out of Yemen. "The President 
is sincere," said Qirbi, "but there are others in the country 
and even inside the Ministry of Defense who are thwarting his 
efforts."  CDA replied that we had indeed noted some wavering 
in this regard.  ROYG attempts to stop the trade have been 
noted, CDA told the FM, but so have lapses in the form of 
continued use of EUCs by arms dealers. CDA reassured Qirbi 
that the USG was willing to help, but that the President must 
garner the political will and make his resolve crystal clear 
to all those involved in the illegal trade. 
Khoury