C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 005200

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, TFUS 3

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2011
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER YM
SUBJECT: SALEH PROMISES PROTECTION FOR AMERICANS

REF: STATE 175419

(U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR EDMUND J. HULL, REASONS 1.5(B)
AND (D).



1. SEE ACTION REQUEST PARA 5.


2. (C) AMBASSADOR CALLED PRESIDENT SALEH UPON RECEIPT OF
REFTEL. MAKING SUGGESTED POINTS, AMBASSADOR EMPHASIZED URGENT
NEED FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY EFFORT AND SUPPORTIVE STATEMENTS BY
ROYG. SALEH RESPONDED THAT HE HAD ALREADY GEARED UP HIS
SECURITY FORCES TO ASSURE SECURITY FOR OFFICIAL AND
NON-OFFICIAL AMERICANS AS WELL AS EUROPEANS. "YOU WILL BE
MORE SECURE IN SANAA THAN WASHINGTON," HE SAID. AMBASSADOR
THANKED SALEH AND THEN ASKED FOR SUPPORTIVE YEMENI STATEMENT
TO SHAPE YEMENI PUBLIC OPINION. SALEH WAS NONCOMMITTAL,
EXPRESSING SOME CONCERN THAT THE U.S. HAD NOT FULLY EXHAUSTED
THE POSSIBILITY OF ARAB OR ISLAMIC DIPLOMACY. HE SAID THE
PRIORITY FOR NOW SHOULD BE SECURITY AND HE WOULD CONSIDER
YEMEN'S POLITICAL POSITION AFTER SEEING HOW THE MILITARY
OPERATION IS CONDUCTED. HE SUGGESTED THE AMBASSADOR SEE HIM
MONDAY OR TUESDAY TO DISCUSS FURTHER THE POLITICAL DIMENSION.


3. (C) IN A SEPARATE CONVERSATION, FOREIGN MINISTER AL-QIRBI
TOLD AMBASSADOR THAT YEMEN WOULD ENDORSE THE U.S. RIGHT TO
SELF DEFENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ONGOING HOSTILITIES. HE
ALSO SAID HE WOULD BE TRAVELING TOMORROW TO THE OIC MEETING
AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY IN YEMEN'S
POSITION BETTER TO SHAPE THE OUTCOME OF THAT MEETING.


4. (C) COMMENT: SALEH'S RETICENCE TO TAKE A STRONG
POLITICAL STAND REFLECTS LINGERING YEMENI CONCERN THAT YEMEN
EVENTUALLY MIGHT BE A MILITARY TARGET. SPECIOUS MEDIA
REPORTS AND ILL-INFORMED SPECULATION BY EUROPEAN AND ARAB
DIPLOMATIC AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS ARE FEEDING THIS
CONCERN.


5. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF AMBASSADOR
COULD REASSURE PRESIDENT SALEH IN MON/TUES MEETING THAT THE
USG SEES YEMEN AS A PARTNER IN CT, NOT A TARGET. IDEALLY,
THIS SHOULD COME AS A MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY POWELL OR
PRESIDENT BUSH.


HULL