CHARGE'S NOVEMBER 22 MEETING WITH FM QIRBI:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002767 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2013 TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC PGOV YM KICC COUNTER TERRORISM DEMARCHE SUBJECT: CHARGE'S NOVEMBER 22 MEETING WITH FM QIRBI: ARTICLE 98; AL-MOAYAD; CT COOPERATION/DETAINEES REF: A. SECSTATE 323777 ¶B. SANAA 2753 ¶C. SANAA 2743 ¶D. SANAA 2742 ¶E. SANAA 2691 ¶F. SANAA 2617 ¶G. S/ES #200325181 Classified By: Charge D' Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.5, b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: During Charge,s 11/22 call on FM Qirbi, there was discussion of: Article 98 negotiations (in &final stages8); CT Cooperation/Detainees (Embassy to maintain steady dialogue with Interior Minister and PSO Chief); and the al-Moayed Extradition (relatives may seek visas to visit defendants in the U.S.). End Summary. ¶2. (C) On November 22, Charge, accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief, called on FM Qirbi to deliver several demarches (septels),as well as to deliver the Secretary,s eid message (ref a) and signed original of the Secretary,s 10/8 letter on Article 98 (ref g). There was discussion of three additional topics. ¶3. (C) ARTICLE 98: Qirbi expressed appreciation for the Secretary,s letter and acknowledged that he had already SIPDIS received the text (ref f). He commented that Article 98 negotiations in Washington were going well and had entered the "final stages." He predicted rapid movement to a mutually agreed final text following a brief hiatus during the Eid and Thanksgiving holidays. ¶4. (C) CT COOPERATION/DETAINEES: Charge briefed Qirbi on recent Embassy contacts with Interior Minister Alimi and PSO Chief Gamish, who had both provided some further clarification of ROYG procedures for determining which detainees would be released (ref b). Charge stressed that unanswered questions nevertheless remain, and that it would be preferable for Yemen to provide such background prior to public announcements that releases have already taken place or are imminent. Qirbi reiterated his call (ref c) for Embassy to pursue steady dialogue with Alimi and Gamish, especially the latter, to avoid disconnects in CT cooperation. ¶5. (C) The FM offered the view, furthermore, that the ROYG,s recent public announcement of detainee releases ) even though none has yet been released ) were useful to demonstrate, both to family members and to critics, that the ROYG is constantly reviewing the issue and positive movement is possible. Finally, he noted approvingly that Yemen,s Ambassador in Washington had been pursuing numerous contacts ) including State, Defense, the White House, the FBI and the Pentagon ) to resolve any problems in counter-terrorism cooperation and address any U.S. misunderstanding of ROYG policy on releasing detainees. ¶6. (C) MOAYED EXTRADITION: Qirbi noted that the U.S. court had appointed two lawyers for al-Moayad and Zayed, and said he understood family members wished to hire one or more additional attorneys. He acknowledged that Yemen,s Ambassador in Washington is assisting in legal arrangements for the case. Qirbi said he hoped the USG would consider favorably visa applications by any family members who wished to travel to the U.S. to visit the defendants or assist with the case. Charge offered assurance that any such visa applications would be handled in accordance with U.S. law and regulations. MISENHEIMER