US embassy cable - 05SANAA3170

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 003170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, OVIP, IR, YM 
SUBJECT: FONMIN "SURPRISED" AT IRANIAN COMMENTS; SAYS 
SALEH'S EID ADDRESS WILL COVER ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO USG 
 
REF: A. 199863 
     B. 199225 
     C. 195442 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS C. KRAJESKI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND ( 
D). 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY:  FonMin Abubakr al-Qirbi told Ambassador on 
October 30 that the ROYG was "surprised" by Iranian President 
Ahmadi-Nejad's recent comments regarding Israel.  Qirbi said 
they were likely meant to score domestic political points in 
what has become a "popularity contest" between the President 
and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.  The FonMin said he did not 
believe Iran intended to declare war on Israel.  The ROYG 
will not make a public statement, but will "offer advice" to 
the Iranian ambassador in Sanaa that this statement was 
"difficult to comprehend in the 21st century."  Turning to 
President Saleh's imminent visit to the United States, 
Ambassador noted an October 28 statement by a ROYG official 
saying that the use of brokers in arms purchases would be 
rendered illegal.  Qirbi predicted that the President would 
cover "many issues of importance to the United States" in his 
annual Eid al-Fitr address to the nation.    END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C)  Responding to Ambassador's presentation of points 
contained in refs A and B, Qirbi said his government was 
"surprised and could not readily understand the aim" of the 
Iranian President's remarks about "wiping Israel off the 
map."  He said the comments reflected negatively on Iran and 
its new president, who Qirbi believes was trying to gain 
domestic political points by making the statement.  Ayatollah 
Khamanei had recently taken certain powers away from the 
president and transferred them to Rafsanjani, a move that has 
sparked a "popularity contest" between the two men.  Qirbi 
said he hoped Rafsanjani would exert a moderating influence 
on the government, but said it was hard to predict what 
Rafsanjani would do, as his "position sways from time to 
time." 
 
3. (C)  Subsequent Iranian Government statements had made 
clear that Iran did not plan on declaring war on Israel, 
Qirbi said.  Asked if the ROYG would make a public statement 
condemning the president's statement, the FonMin replied that 
it was "not likely," but said his government would "offer 
advice" to the Iranian ambassador, noting that this sort of 
comment is "difficult to comprehend in the 21st century." 
 
4. (C)  Turning to President Saleh's upcoming visit, 
Ambassador said he had told Saleh on October 25 that 
President Bush would be very interested in hearing about the 
ROYG's plan to bring the proliferation of Small Arms and 
Light Weapons under control (ref C).  In that context, it was 
reassuring to see press statements by Yemeni officials on 
October 28 making it clear that the ROYG had "taken strict 
measures to ban the purchase of arms by brokers," and that 
"those found involved in bringing arms into the country will 
be held accountable as lawbreakers."  Ambassador also said 
Saleh's positive statements in support of the political 
process in Iraq following his meeting with King Abdullah II 
of Jordan were helpful.  Qirbi added that President Saleh's 
annual Eid address to the nation this week would cover these 
topics "and other issues of importance to the United States." 
Krajeski