ICOC - URGING ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES TO SUBSCRIBE:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001318

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA YM MTCRE DEMARCHE
SUBJECT: ICOC - URGING ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES TO SUBSCRIBE:
YEMEN

REF: A.STATE 97985 B.STATE 155178

Classified By: CHARGE ALAN MISENHEIMER FOR REASONS 1.5(B)


1. (U) On 6/7, Acting Pol/Econ Chief delivered Ref A demarche
concerning the International Code of Conduct against
Ballistic Missile Proliferation (ICOC) to Marwan Noman,
Office Director to Yemen's Foreign Minister.


2. (C) Noman was familiar with the issue: the diplomatic
note that would have added Yemen to the list of ICOC
signatories had been on his desk in April, ready to pass to
Foreign Minister Abu-Baker al-Qirbi for signature. According
to Noman, the Ministry of Defense objected at the last
minute, claiming the Code would limit their military options.
That objection had trumped, at least for the time being, the
strong ICOC endorsement given by Amat al-Alim al-Soswah,
recently named as Minister of Human Rights in the new Yemeni
cabinet.


3. (C) Pol/Econ chief reviewed ref B talking points,
stressing that the ICOC would not affect any legitimate
defense or space exploration requirements. Noman promised to
raise the matter again and said he was optimistic that the
MOD objections would be overcome and the Foreign Minister
would sign the ICOC.


4. (c) Comment: The view presented to us -- that FM Qirbi
and the MFA are ready to proceed, while the MOD is hesitant
-- is credible. Our MFA contacts say MOD reservations are
not deeply held and may soon give way. Nevertheless, such
inter-ministerial discord often proves difficult for the ROYG
to resolve. Post will continue to press on both the MFA and
the MOD.

MISENHEIMER