US embassy cable - 05SANAA1908

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001908 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, YM, UNGA, DEMARCHE 
SUBJECT: CDA DELIVERS SECURITY COUNCIL ENLARGEMENT DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 126870 
 
Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) CDA delivered ref A demarche on Security Council 
enlargement to Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi on July 13. 
CDA stressed that successful UN reform depended on building 
consensus on a wide variety of issues, rather than focusing 
too much energy on a potentially divisive topic such as UNSC 
expansion.  Qirbi agreed that other areas of reform, 
including administrative, should take precedence over 
Security Council expansion. 
 
2. (C) Qirbi reiterated the ROYG's long-standing support for 
Japan and Germany as permanent UNSC members.  At the moment, 
said Qirbi, ROYG policy is to support the G-4 expansion plan, 
but added that when it came time to vote "it might be a 
different story."  He also expressed concern that the G-4 
plan, with its focus on regional representation, could create 
serious divisions within Africa and Asia that would detract 
from the organization's ability to address important issues 
like counterterrorism. 
 
3. (C) Comment: The ROYG strongly supports the inclusion of 
Japan and Germany as permanent Security Council members. 
While they may continue to publicly support the G-4 plan, 
Qirbi's comments indicate that an affirmative ROYG vote on 
the proposal is by no means guaranteed.  Yemen may still 
prove to be a useful ally on Security Council expansion and 
UN reform in general. 
Khoury