CHARGE DELIVERS BULGARIA YEMEN MANPADS DEMARCHE

S E C R E T SANAA 001967

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL YM DEMARCHE
SUBJECT: CHARGE DELIVERS BULGARIA YEMEN MANPADS DEMARCHE

REF: A. STATE 169075

B. SANAA 1316

C. 03 SANAA 3010

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nabeel Khoury; reasons 1.5 (b),(d).


1. (S) Summary. Charge delivered reftel demarche to Yemeni
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense on August 11. Both
denied the ROYG was engaged in, or had any information about
an illicit third-party arms deal for Bulgarian SA-14 MANPADS.
End Summary.


2. (S) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Yemeni Foreign
Minister al-Qirby and Defense Minister Alaiwa. He emphasized
that the possibility of such a deal was particularly
troubling, in anticipation of A/S Bloomfield's visit to Yemen
to discuss U.S. assistance in buyback and destruction of
these weapons. The Defense Minister denied any knowledge of
the deal. Al-Alaiwa asked Charge if we knew the name of the
middleman involved, and could we please pass on the
information?


3. (S) Comment: On several occasions, MFA reps mentioned to
USG officials FM Qirby's decision to inform Yemen's embassies
abroad of the cancellation of previously issued end-user
certificates for weapons imports and Saleh's initiatives to
impose new restrictions on purchases, refs b and c. How the
ROYG handles this issue in upcoming talks will A/S Bloomfield
will be indicative of the serious of its expressed intent to
stem the smuggling of weapons in and of Yemen. End Comment.
KRAJESKI