YEMEN: PROPOSED FERRY SERVICE FROM YEMEN TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001348 SIPDIS NEA/NGA FOR NATE JENSEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2013 TAGS: EWWT PREF IZ YM SUBJECT: YEMEN: PROPOSED FERRY SERVICE FROM YEMEN TO IRAQ REF: CATO/JENSEN TELCON 6/9 Classified By: Charges D'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.5 ( d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- see paragraph 4 ¶2. (U) On June 8, Saeed Salh Al-Ghalebi, Al-Ghalebi Shipping Company Ltd, met with Embassy's Commercial Assistant to inquire about the procedures required to establish a ferry service from Yemen to Iraq. ¶3. (U) Ghalebi estimated that there are between 10,000 - 12,000 Iraqis in Yemen (many of them teachers on summer break) who would like to return to Iraq. A Turkish-owned ship in Dubai is ready to come to Aden (or Hodeidah) and pick-up passengers for transport to the port of Umm Qasr, but Ghalebi is awaiting additional information from the Embassy before proceeding. Ghalebi would like to organize between 10-15 trips, and estimates the fee for the ship at USD 2 million. ¶4. (C) Action requested: Post requests the Department's guidance before we respond to Ghalebi on the feasibility of his proposed ferry service. POC for this request is Pol/Econ Officer Willeah Cato. She can be contacted via unclass and class e-mail: catowe@state.gov or catowe@state.sgov.gov, phone (967) 1 303 - 155 x2155, or fax at (967) 1 303 - 259. In addition, please forward this query to the appropriate individuals in both OCPA and CENTCOM. ¶5. (U) Minimize considered. MISENHEIMER