PASSING SECRETARY POWELL'S LETTER ON ARTICLE 98

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002617

SIPDIS

FOR T-U/S BOLTON, PM-BBODINE, NEA-A/S BURNS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2013
TAGS: PREL YM KICC
SUBJECT: PASSING SECRETARY POWELL'S LETTER ON ARTICLE 98

Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J.Hull, Reasons 1.5(b) and (d)


1. (C) On October 25, I met one-on-one with Foreign Minister
Qirbi and passed a signed copy of the Secretary's letter
urging quick conclusion of an Article 98 agreement (pouched
original not yet received). I also gave Qirbi the exchange
of diplomatic notes agreed with Egypt redacted to eliminate
mention of that country. I then reiterated Bill Burns'
argument that Yemen should quickly conclude a similar
agreement before attention grew in either Washington or Sanaa.


2. (C) Qirbi carefully read the Secretary's letter and said
he would raise the issue with President Saleh. In response
to Qirbi's request for clarification on various forms which
agreement might take, I noted that the example I had
presented had been accepted by a major Arab country and met
Yemeni concerns for formal reciprocity. I urged him to focus
on this model as most appropriate for Yemeni purposes.


3. (C) COMMENT: I will continue to track this issue
personally.
HULL