BEHIND THE SCENES ON YEMEN-SAUDI BORDER COOPERATION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000414

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PBTS SA YM COUNTER TERRORISM ECON COM
SUBJECT: BEHIND THE SCENES ON YEMEN-SAUDI BORDER COOPERATION

REF: A. SANAA 381

B. RIYADH 822

C. FBIS GMP 2004022200185

Classified By: DCM Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.5 (b and d)


1. (s) Summary: President Saleh told CDA on February 19 that
DCI George Tenent played a major role in facilitating the new
border agreement between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Both
countries agreed to halt new construction and begin joint
Ministry of Interior patrols. A resolution was a political
necessity for Saleh who likely felt pressure from tribes who
had lost lucrative cross-border trade after the barriers were
erected. End summary.

--------------
Saleh: Tenent's Role Important
--------------


2. (s) On the margins of President Saleh's February 19
meeting with members of a congressional staff delegation in
the port city of Mukallah, CDA congratulated Saleh on his
successful Feb 17/18 trip to Saudi Arabia. Saleh replied,
"George Tenent spoke with the Saudis two days before me, and
his role was important." (NFI) Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ahmed
Sofan also told CDA that Saleh was pleased with the DCI's
role.


3. (s) Later that same day, FM Abubakr al-Qirbi told CDA that
"Saleh had to go" to Saudi Arabia, adding that Saleh's
successful negotiations with Crown Prince Abdullah was a
significant step for Yemen. Echoing comments by DPM Sofan,
Qirbi said Saleh found Abdullah "unaware" of this issue, but
once notified was immediately responsive to ROYG concerns.
In a separate conversation on the return flight from
Mukallah, Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Noman privately
questioned the explanation, and wondered out loud how
Abdullah could be unaware of an 8 million USD expenditure.
He commented that Yemen was obliged to accept the Saudi
position as stated.

--------------
ROYG: Despite Loopholes Claimed by Saudis,
Construction Violates Jeddah Agreement
--------------


4. (s) DFM Noman described Saudi construction as complying in
the "technical sense" of the Jeddah Agreement because the
agreement prohibits any construction in the 20 km border area
that obscures vision across the landscape. The Saudi
position, according to Noman, is that the construction of
pipes anchored vertically in the ground and linked by wire
does not impede vision and thus is permissible under the
agreement. Noman stressed that the ROYG believes that the
Saudi position is disingenuous because the barriers clearly
violate both the spirit and the letter of the agreement.

-------------- --------------
Solution: Cessation of Construction and Joint Patrols
-------------- --------------


5. (s) DFM Noman said the agreement includes a freeze on
Saudi construction (no dismantling of existing structures),
and upcoming talks will work out details for stepped-up joint
patrols that will stop smuggling "and render the barriers
unnecessary." However, in an interview with al-Arabiyya (ref
c),Saleh claimed that barriers would be dismantled. Many
papers Yemeni repeated this claim. Saleh also said further
negotiations would be conducted by the Ministries of
Interiors. In a 2/23 meeting, MFA Director of the Arab World
Department Abdullah Matar told Pol/Econ Chief that an
agreement had been signed by both Interior Ministers, but
that the issue of whether to cease construction and/or
dismantle the barriers was not decided, but would be worked
out by "committees,"


6. (s) DPM Sofan underscored the political necessity of an
agreement for the ROYG. He said that the Saudi barrier
stopped legitimate cross-border movement by tribes on both
sides of the border. Sofan said they were not engaged in
smuggling per se, i.e. they were not smuggling arms,
explosives or facilitating the transit of terrorists. But,
Sofan reiterated, their ability to move freely across the
border is vital to the tribes. Sofan commented that Saleh
was compelled to intervene directly when talks by the
Interior Minister and Foreign Minister failed to yield any
progress at all.

-------------- -
Comment: Balancing Security and Economic Needs
-------------- -


7. (s) Comment: While the ROYG and the SAG have not yet
completely resolved their differences over the Saudi's
construction of barriers, the defusing of this dispute is a
step forward for Yemeni/SAG cooperation (ref b). While the
tribes described by DPM Sofan may or may not be smuggling
arms, they are likely trafficking household goods, foodstuffs
and cars, which provide the livelihood for many border tribes
and businessmen throughout the country. DPM Sofan clearly
implied that the tribes put pressure on Saleh to pursue a
resolution and future cooperation will have to continue to
balance political, economic and security needs for both
countries. End comment.
HULL