ARTICLE 98 NOT YET RATIFIED: DFM NOTES "TIMING IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001733 SIPDIS PM/SNA FOR AMBASSADOR BODINE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2014 TAGS: KICC PTER YM SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 NOT YET RATIFIED: DFM NOTES "TIMING IS DIFFICULT" REF: SECSTATE 145167 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.5 (b and d) ¶1. (c) Pol/Econ Chief met with Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, the Americas and International Organizations Mustapha Noman on 7/11 and delivered message in reftel on the importance of Article 98 ratification. Noman said that he was aware that the issue had been discussed twice in Parliament and that Article 98 ratification had not moved forward, but did not know if it was due to procedural, substantive or political reasons. In an obvious reference to Abu Ghraib, he noted that the timing for Article 98 discussions was "difficult" and "not good for the U.S." Pol/Econ Chief explained that the U.S. has taken the allegations against the perpetrators of abuse at Abu Ghraib seriously and following investigations has commenced prosecuting criminal behavior, as demonstrated by the recent court martial proceedings. ¶2. (c) In subsequent email exchanges on 7/14 and 7/16, Noman clarified that the Article 98 agreement has not been ratified for "administrative reasons" and promised to provide status updates on any changes. HULL