AMBASSADOR HULL'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT SALEH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001738 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2014 TAGS: PARM OPDC PREL YM COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HULL'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT SALEH INCLUDING MANPAD DEMARCHE REF: STATE 153028 Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for reasons 1.5(b and d) ¶1. (C) President Saleh received me July 20 for my farewell call. In his remarks, he expressed satisfaction with US-Yemeni relations and particularly the progress on counter terrorism in Yemen over the past three years. Saleh added appreciation for my efforts and acknowledged that he had at times been somewhat harsh in dealing with me. Yemen is a small poor country, he explained, and needed to use the American ambassador to send strong messages to a U.S. government that was preoccupied with important issues worldwide. In turn, I thanked Saleh for his leadership on counter terrorism which had won the support of the Yemeni people, and I praised him for the positive steps taken towards establishing democracy in Yemen. What remained to do, I stressed, was serious economic reforms that would provide effective government services, create jobs and reduce corruption. ¶2. (C) Noting continuing government operations in Sa'ada against al Huthi, Saleh again made a plea for USG technology to locate al Huthi via his use of the telephone. Al Huthi had conducted an extended interview with BBC July 19, Saleh noted. Saleh also asked me to follow up on licenses for F5/C130 spare parts, expressing an understanding that the US military supply process was often a slow one. ¶3. (C) I then provided Saleh with the Secretary's letter on manpads (reftel) and an Arabic translation of it. Saleh perused the document and commented that the Yemeni military is currently confiscating many weapons, for example RPGs, from al Huthi's supporters. I noted that the Secretary's focus was on manpads, and Saleh said he would study it carefully. ¶4. (C) After being presented with the customary gift -- a Yemeni unity medal -- I took my leave. HULL