DPM SOFAN: YEMEN WILLING TO HOST PROPOSED G-8

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001178

SIPDIS

NSC FOR EDSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID PGOV YM ECON COM
SUBJECT: DPM SOFAN: YEMEN WILLING TO HOST PROPOSED G-8
MICROFINANCE PILOT PROGRAM

REF: EDSON/SOFAN MAY 6 FAX

1.(u) Post received letters at para 3 from Deputy Prime
Minister Sofan on May 15 officially accepting Yemen's
proposed role as host to a microfinance pilot program. Post
faxed the letters to NEA/ARP and continues to try faxing the
NSC.

2.(u) On 5/16 FM Qirbi told the Ambassador (other topics
reported septel) that the ROYG is very pleased with the
microfinance initiative.

3.(u) Embassy Sanaa point of contact for this initiative is
Pol/Econ officer Jill Hutchings, who can be contacted at the
following phone numbers: Embassy: (967) (1) 303-155
extension 2156, cell phone (967) 7329-2603. Her e-mail
addresses are: classified: HutchingsJE2@state.sgov.gov;
unclassified: Hutchingsje@state.gov. The number for

SIPDIS
emergencies only is (967) (1) 303-166 (Post One).

4.(u) Text regarding above referenced letters:

BEGIN TEXT

REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Ministry Of Planning &
International Cooperation
Minister

Sana'a, May 15, 2004

Mr. Edmund J. HULL
US Ambassador
Sana'a - YEMEN

Ref. Subject: The GMEI and the G-8's Proposed Pilot
Microfinance Program in Yemen

Dear Edmund,

I am attaching a letter to Mr. Gary R. EDSON, the Deputy
Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs
and Deputy National Security Advisor on the above subject.

I would appreciate if the Embassy would convey the official
letter to Mr. EDSON. With my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Ahmed M. SOFAN
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Planning & Intl.
Cooperation
Sana'a - YEMEN

--------------
--------------
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Ministry Of Planning &
International Cooperation
Minister

Ref:
Date:
Sana'a, May 15, 2004

Mr. Gary R. EDSON
Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic
Affairs
And Deputy National Security Advisor
White House
Washington, DC

Ref. Subject: The GMEI and the G-8's Proposed Pilot
Microfinance Program in Yemen

Dear Mr. EDSON,

Thank you for your letter of May 6, 2004 on the above
subject. I am pleased to inform you that Yemen welcomes the
Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI) and express our
willingness to host a pilot program of the G-8's proposed
microfinance initiative within the Greater Middle East
region.

Yemen is also willing to participate in the proposed "Forum
of the Future" which would bring together officials from the
G-8 and regional ministers of Finance, Trade and Foreign
Affairs.

As I conveyed to you in our last meeting in Washington and in
the conversation we had earlier last week, Yemen has since
the mid-1990s embarked on a rigorous program of reforms
across socio-economic and political fronts, that received the
respect and admiration of the international community but
with little development assistance.

Despite progress on reforms, Yemen has a long way to go in
terms of achieving long-term economic growth and sustainable
employment and poverty reduction. Yemen has increasing trust
that the international community and Washington in particular
would now consider enhanced development aid to assist Yemen
maintain the reform process and provide much needed financing
to confront socio-economic challenges. Yemen remains one of
the least ODA recipient countries among LDCs.


Again, it is our understanding that US-led initiatives would
eventually contribute towards addressing the region's
economic and social needs in a more positive way.

We trust your support and look forward to working together on
making this pilot exercise a model in our part of the world.
Best regards.

Sincerely,

Ahmed M. SOFAN
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Planning & Intl.
Cooperation
Sana'a - YEMEN


Ministry Website: www.mpic-yemen.org
END TEXT

HULL