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.

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USG Assistance
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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.

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Pouch and Escape Masks
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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.

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Other Matters
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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