Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04SANAA2520
2004-09-28 15:25:00
SECRET
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

YEMEN MANPADS BUYBACK: WE HAVE A DEAL

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S E C R E T SANAA 002520 

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO PM A/S BLOOMFIELD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2014
TAGS: PARMS PTER MARR PREL YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: YEMEN MANPADS BUYBACK: WE HAVE A DEAL

REF: SANAA 2437 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SANAA 002520

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO PM A/S BLOOMFIELD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2014
TAGS: PARMS PTER MARR PREL YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: YEMEN MANPADS BUYBACK: WE HAVE A DEAL

REF: SANAA 2437 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary. On September 28 the ROYG signed an
agreement with the USG that will affect the purchase and
destruction of a minimum 1,435 Yemeni MANPADS. Foreign
Minister Dhabbi and Ambassador commented on the agreement's
symbolic and strategic importance to the bilateral
relationship and U.S.-Yemeni cooperation in the GWOT. The
U.S. technical team is already on the ground inspecting and
disabling recovered MANPADS. End Summary.


2. (S) Deputy Foreign Minister Mohie al-Dhabbi and
Ambassador signed a USG MANPADS buyback and destruction
agreement at the Foreign Ministry on September 28. National
Security Bureau (NSB) Deputy Director Ammar Saleh, lead ROYG
official on illicit weapons recovery, was present at the
signing. Dhabbi commented that "this achievement reflects
the seriousness and commitment of both sides" to step up
security cooperation, adding his hope that this level of
cooperation will be achieved in other areas. (Note: Dhabbi
commonly points out the need for increased development
assistance, in addition to CT assistance, as necessary to the
long term success of the ROYG's efforts to fight terrorism.
End Note). Ambassador concurred, saying that the region is
now a safer place as a result of the agreement between the
two sides.


3. (S) Dhabbi also reiterated the ROYG request that the
agreement remain confidential in order to avoid any internal
public backlash while the program is ongoing. Following the
signing, DAO and head of USG technical team met with NSB
Deputy Director Saleh to discuss modalities for this and
future operations. Ammar confided that there are more
systems out there and that the ROYG continues its efforts to
locate and purchase them.


4. (S) Comment. The USG - ROYG MANPADS agreement has
important bilateral and tactical implications. When the
process began September 1, President Saleh told visiting A/S
Bloomfield "we don't want, and we don't need" MANPADS. ROYG
recognition, sparked its struggle with the al-Houthi
rebellion, that Yemeni illicit weapons threaten internal
stability, could result in ROYG willingness to be a more
consistent partner in the GWOT. At them same time, removal
and destruction of at least 1,435 of these dangerous weapons
favored by terrorists, is a significant tactical CT success.
End Comment.
KRAJESKI