U/S BOLTON'S VISIT TO YEMEN: MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 001455

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2013
TAGS: PARM MARR PREL MNUC MASS KN YM MARITIME SECURITY
SUBJECT: U/S BOLTON'S VISIT TO YEMEN: MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER, MOD CHIEF OF STAFF, AND DEMINING AUTHORITY

Classified By: Charge Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.5 (b,d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Begin summary: During a day of official meetings on
June 17, Under Secretary for Non-Proliferation and
International Security John R. Bolton met with Foreign
Minister Abubaker al-Qirbi and MOD Chief of Staff Major
General Mohammed al-Qasami to discuss Yemen's relations with
the DPRK and to encourage the ROYG to sign an Article 98
agreement (FM Qirbi Article 98 conversation reported septel).
Minister of State Qassim Ahmed al-Ajjam also briefed U/S
Bolton on Yemen's humanitarian demining program and the
impact of U.S. participation on its success. During his
visit to Yemen, U/S Bolton also met with President Saleh and
his atomic energy advisor, Dr. Bahran -- see septels. End
summary.

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Foreign Minister Qirbi
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2. (S/NF) U/S Bolton, accompanied by Charge, Special
Assistant Mark Groombridge, Jodie Green,OSD, and PolOff,
began his meeting with Foreign Minister Abubaker al-Qirbi by
discussing North Korea's nuclear program. Bolton noted that
since last summer's confirmation of the DPRK,s
proliferation, the USG has worked hard to promote peaceful
nuclear disarmament. Unfortunately, he added, the DPRK has
progressively escalated the conflict. The USG will continue
to pursue a diplomatic solution, but, the flow of money which
is funding the DPRK,s nuclear program must be reduced, if
not stopped entirely. To this end, the U.S. is forming a
partnership of people around the world to denounce the
DPRK,s unacceptable behavior. Yemen's participation in this
partnership is very important because of ROYG SCUD missile
purchases from the DPRK, highlighted by last year's So San
incident. Bolton said that it is time for Yemen and the U.S.
to place pressure on the DPRK and deny it the ability to
amass WMDs.


3. (S/NF) Bolton expressed his belief that a way can be
found to deal peacefully with the DPRK. Citing a recent
conference in Madrid, Bolton noted that the U.S. is prepared
to do more than just ask countries to cut off aid and stop
transactions. During the meeting in Madrid, eleven
countries, all willing to bear the associated financial
burden, are preparing to conduct operations to intercept
suspect shipments from the DPRK. However, it would be less
problematic if there were no purchases at all. Because of
DPRK,s record of continued deception, the U.S. is concerned
about the sale of WMDs, including plutonium and uranium. The
U.S. goal is to shut down DPRK sales of weapons and drugs, by
working with Yemen and others in the region.

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Yemen and the DPRK - No Love Story
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4. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Qirbi said that ROYG has been
following the DPRK WMD problem and is ready to cooperate with
the U.S. There is no love between ROYG and North Korea: the
relations are pragmatic, based on the low cost North Korea
offers on arms and construction. Qirbi stressed that the
last shipment of SCUDS to Yemen was in December 2002, and
ROYG is not upgrading the SCUDS in its possession. There is
an outstanding order for spare parts, totaling about $3-4
million, and ongoing negotiations with DPRK for the
construction of naval base. (Qirbi quickly added that ROYG is
open to alternatives on the latter.)


5. (S/NF) Qirbi also said that ROYG has no interest in
providing the DPRK with any money for the development of
WMDs, particularly in light of the threat to Japan - a major
donor to Yemen. Bolton noted that the U.S. has talked to
China and Russia on this issue. The U.S. is in a race to
resolve the problem before the DPRK,s weapon status becomes
even more advanced.


6. (S/NF) Qirbi responded by noting that ROYG still needs
to explore ways in to develop their coastal defense in the
absence of the DPRK. While the problem of the Yemen-Saudi
border is being addressed by new security agreements with the
Saudis, Yemen has over 2,000 kilometers of coastline which is
difficult to control and must be secured. Before
unification, Yemen had a limited naval capacity, and
currently has almost none. The estimated cost for a new
naval base in Aden or Hodeidah was $80-100 million. U/S
Bolton expressed an interest in pursuing this issue further.
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MOD Chief of Staff Qasami and the DPRK
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7. (S/NF) U/S Bolton was originally scheduled to meet with
Minister of Defense Abdullah Ali Aliwa, who was called away
on short notice in response to a border incident near Marib
(septel). Chief of Staff Major General Qasami began by
apologizing for the Minister,s absence while noting ROYG,s
satisfaction with U.S.-Yemen cooperation in the war against
terror. Training by U.S. forces has greatly improved
Yemen,s capabilities and with time, will advance them even
more.

8. (S/NF) U/S Bolton noted that, while the U.S. has no
intention of infringing upon Yemen,s legitimate defense
needs, it is important that the U.S. and Yemen work together
to cut off the flow of funding for the DPRK,s nuclear
program. The U.S., he said, seeks a firm political agreement
that Yemen will have no additional procurement from the DPRK,
and will work with the U.S. to monitor and exchange
information on the DPRK and their sales in the Middle East.


9. (S/NF) Qasami noted that ROYG has discussed this issue
before, notably with Secretary Powell, and hopes the U.S.
understands Yemen's position. The purchase of the SCUDS was
initiated in 1994 just before Yemen's civil war. ROYG
subsequently asked for the money back, but, he said, the
request was ignored. In the end ROYG decided to take the
SCUDS. Qasami emphasized that no more SCUDS will be purchased
and the ROYG will not upgrade those it already possesses.

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Negotiations with DPRK for a Navy Base
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10. (S/NF) Reviewing the same list of ongoing matters as FM
Qirbi, Qasami mentioned an agreement with the DPRK for
maintenance of missiles and coastal defenses and negotiations
on the possible construction of a naval base. U/S Bolton
noted that the U.S. would like to cut off these transactions
as well, and asked about alternative bidders -- perhaps from
Eastern Europe. Qasami replied that ROYG looked at Eastern
European contractors but they were expensive and they all
wanted cash. As for the contract for maintenance of coastal
defenses, that had been signed and partially paid, but the
amount -- about seven million dollars-- is not large. The
ROYG will stop that contract, he offered, if the U.S. will
reimburse them.


11. (C) COS Qassimi again noted that ROYG will stop
negotiations with the DPRK for the naval base if the U.S. is
willing to assist. He lamented the many problems facing ROYG
-- smuggling, Somali refugees, drug trafficking, and illegal
fishing -- as well as the lack of the facilities and
equipment necessary to deal with them. What happened to the
Cole and the Limberg must not happen again, but the ROYG
needs U.S. assistance to prevent future terrorist attacks.
U/S Bolton replied that he did not question the ROYG,s
assessment of their needs; the U.S. is prepared to work with
Yemen and others interested in solving the North Korean
problem.

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The MOD View of Article 98
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12. (C) Article 98: Qasami noted that the Article 98 issue
was being worked between the MFA and the Ministry of Legal
Affairs. If they ask the MOD for advice, he would support an
agreement. Charge added that this should be an important
issue for MOD because if Yemen ratifies the ICC before
signing an Article 98 agreement, it will result in the loss
of military funding. Qasami concluded by expressing his
appreciation for U.S cooperation on military assistance and
demining, noting that 95% of demining staff are recruits from
the MOD.

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Demining: Successful Program with "A Long Way to Go"
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13. (C) Minister of State and Chairman of the National Mine
Action Committee (NMAC) Qassim Ahmed al-Aajam thanked U/S
Bolton for United States support to the ROYG's humanitarian
demining program. American assistance was the "fundamental
basis" for demining's achievements over the past few years,
but continued USG engagement was crucial. Mansour al-Azi,
the Executive Director of the NMAC, gave a presentation on
Yemen's humanitarian demining program overall and the impact
of U.S. contributions specifically. After the presentation,
U/S Bolton spoke about the long-term needs of the demining
program, and offered to check the status of current USG
funding for Yemen upon his return to Washington.

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Development: The Key to Security in Yemen
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14. (C) Development was the main topic during U/S Bolton's
lunch with Ahmad Soufan, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of
Development and International Cooperation, Foreign Minister
Qirbi and Charge. Soufan and Qirbi both emphasized that
progress in development was the key to security and stability
in Yemen. Development is the most important issue for the
people of Yemen, because they need hope for the future and
progress they can see in their daily lives. Qirbi also
raised the Millennium Challenge Account, noting that Yemen is
on the list of eligible countries. Both Ministers were
relaxed and cordial during the lunch, and thanked U/S Bolton
for coming to Yemen. Soufan emphasized that U.S. visitors do
not come to Yemen frequently enough.

MISENHEIMER