AMBASSADOR NOTIFIES MFA OF YEMENI ENEMY COMBATANT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002047

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2014
TAGS: KAWC PINR PREL PTER YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR NOTIFIES MFA OF YEMENI ENEMY COMBATANT
DETERMINATION

REF: STATE 175727

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

(C) Ambassador notified Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi on
August 22 that a Yemeni Guantanamo detainee was designated as
an enemy combatant by the Combatant Status Review Tribunal
(CSRT) per reftel. Ambassador assured the FM that the USG
did not intend to release the nationality of detainees
determined to be enemy combatants, but emphasized that press
interest in the tribunal process is intense. Qirbi nodded,
saying, "I think it will eventually become public -- it
cannot be avoided." The FM asked that we continue to give
advance notification of CSRT determinations involving
Yemenis, explaining that having the information before it
becomes public allows the ROYG to manage popular reaction and
to provide consular/legal support to their citizens held in
Guantanamo.

KRAJESKI