YEMENI FM AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS USG ASSISTANCE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000339 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2013 TAGS: PREL ADCO ADPM YM ECON COM SUBJECT: YEMENI FM AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS USG ASSISTANCE, POUCH AND OTHER MATTERS REF: SECSTATE 40782 Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Chief Catherine J. Westley for Reason 1. 5 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador briefed the Foreign Minister on his recent Washington consultations at a meeting on February 18. He detailed current and potential USG assistance in several areas and brought up the pouch issue for closure. FM Qirbi expressed appreciation for continued U.S.-Yemen cooperation in all areas. The Ambassador and FM also discussed Yemen's assurances on Yemen-North Korea missile cooperation and the Iraq situation (septels). Yemen's leading daily Al-Thawra carried a factual front-page account of the meeting February 19. End Summary. -------------- USG Assistance -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador briefed Qirbi on several areas on USG assistance, including possible budget allocations for security and economic assistance, prospects for food aid and Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) assistance, current democratic development assistance and Yemen's candidacy for inclusion in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). ¶3. (C) The Ambassador noted that Yemen and Morocco are the two leading countries from the Middle East for consideration in the MCA, but cautioned Qirbi not to be too hopeful in the near term. While Yemen is well-positioned in many areas such as political reform, fiscal responsibility and health and education expenditures, there is more work to be done. The ROYG, the USG and the World Bank should work together to make sure that needed reforms are undertaken. Qirbi agreed on the vital importance of working together to ensure Yemen remains a leading candidate. He noted that even with elections looming, the ROYG could develop a reform agenda now that includes steps relevant to the MCA. ¶4. (C) Qirbi said it was encouraging to hear good news on the assistance front, and said it was a result of good cooperation and a frequent exchange of views. -------------- Pouch and Escape Masks -------------- ¶5. (C) Qirbi said that he had still been unable to finalize the pouch issue with PSO Chief Gamish because both had been traveling at different times. He undertook to speak to Gamish before leaving for a Malaysia trip on February 19. Qirbi assured the Ambassador that he had been told that the escape masks stuck in Customs were being released today (February 18). However, post has not yet received the masks as of late afternoon. -------------- Other Matters -------------- ¶6. (U) Qirbi agreed to pass on President Bush's letter to President Saleh thanking him for Saleh's condolences on the Space Shuttle tragedy (ref). ¶7. (U) Also present at the meeting were MFA Advisor al-Iryani, DCM, DATT and Acting Pol/Econ Chief (notetaker). HULL