US embassy cable - 05SANAA1910

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, YE, DOMESTIC POLITICS 
SUBJECT: SALEH CELEBRATES HIS 27TH WITH PANACHE AND SAYS HE 
WON'T RUN AGAIN! 
 
 
Classified By: CDA NABEEL KHOURY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary: 
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1 (U) The diplomatic community was invited, along with 
Yemen's political establishment, to help President Saleh 
celebrate his 27th year in office. Sandwiched between a long 
receiving line and a cake and toast-fest guests were treated 
to a vintage Saleh speech replete with "frank" talk to 
Opposition parties, media and the diplomatic community. Saleh 
asked the opposition not to think like foes to the regime; he 
asked the media to be more responsible and the diplomatic 
community not to intervene in Yemen's internal affairs. The 
highlight of the speech came when he suddenly asserted that 
he would not run for another term as President.  End Summary. 
 
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I respect you, but don't push it! 
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2. (U) After shaking hands with his several hundred 
well-wishers, Saleh gave a speech which started predictably 
with remarks on the history of the country, the revolution 
and the struggle for unity between north and south. Saleh 
then quickly jumped to the matter at hand, the current state 
of affairs in the country. Saleh asserted that Yemen's 
democracy and pluralism course was set by Yemenis for Yemenis 
and took root before any "foreigner" tried to impose it from 
outside. In that vein, said Saleh, the idea of freedom of 
expression and organization was genuine but had to be 
properly defined. "Free expression does not mean the freedom 
to curse and malign people. The media must be responsible and 
know its limits."  As for the opposition, Saleh counseled, "I 
respect you. You are the other face of the government and the 
state. By all means, oppose and run for office, but don't 
think of yourselves as foes of the state or the ruling party. 
You have a responsibility for what happens here. You are our 
partners." 
 
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You Can't Leave Us! 
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3. (U) Clearly departing from his text, Saleh asked that the 
opposition be encouraged to run for the highest office and to 
help build a new generation of leaders in the country. 
Indeed, Saleh added, "I will not run for another term in 
office. I will complete my constitutional duties to the 
fullest and then make room for others to lead this 
country."Saleh was barely allowed to finish his sentence 
before being interrupted by groans and moans from the Yemeni 
side of the room. Amidst shouts of "No, this can't be," one 
Qabili stood up and gave an impassioned plea for Saleh to 
reconsider, saying, "You can't leave us, we will support you 
and be by your side forever!" 
 
4. Ominously, Saleh made several "don't interfere in our 
internal affairs" remarks to the foreign diplomats in the 
audience. Directing himself to democracy building programs in 
the country, Saleh said, "We accept your advice but not your 
interference." Giving a specific example of "a group that 
recently met in Hadramout to discuss tribal revenge killing" 
- (a reference that seemed aimed at a U.S. Embassy supported 
program) Saleh said, "I say to the foreign community keep 
your activities channeled through our ministry of foreign 
affairs. Deal with NGOs but only those already established 
and recognized by us. Don't start your own NGOs here." 
 
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Comment: 
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5. (C) CDA canvassed other foreign diplomats and a few ROYG 
contacts, during the reception that followed the speech, for 
their reactions. Consensus was that the President was being 
coy and certainly was not serious about not running for 
office in 2006. His courting of the opposition, almost in the 
same breath as saying he won't run, was according to some, a 
clear appeal for the opposition to nominate him for another 
term in office, as they did the last time around. As for his 
warning against interference in Yemen's internal affairs, one 
of our ROYG contacts said, "don't worry, someone probably 
whispered that one in his ear prior to his speech and he felt 
he had to throw it in." Islah leader, Sheikh Abdallah 
al-Ahmar,  has over the past several months protested the 
"free movement of American and western diplomats around the 
country, in a way that constituted interference in Yemen's 
internal affairs." Saleh's need to woo al-Ahmar away from a 
serious challenge for the Presidency may indeed explain his 
remarks on foreign intervention. In the end, a vintage Saleh 
speech and performance, but no real policy departures on 
this, the 27th anniversary of Saleh's reign.  End comment. 
Khoury