SANAA EAC MEETING - 28 FEBRUARY 2004

S E C R E T SANAA 000448

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA,
NEA/ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2014
TAGS: ASEC AMGT PREL PTER YM EAC TERFIN
SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING - 28 FEBRUARY 2004

REF: A. SANAA 415

B. HULL-WAYNE 2/25 E-MAIL

C. IIR 262238Z FEB 04

D. SANAA 409

E. 03 SANAA 2036

Classified By: DCM Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (S/NF) Summary: The Ambassador convened an EAC meeting
on February 28, 2004 to review security conditions for
Embassy personnel and the general American community in light
of muted public reaction to the terrorist financing
designation of Sheikh Zindani (refs A and B) and recent
threat reporting (ref C). EAC agreed that neither issue
warranted immediate changes to Post's already stringent
security posture. Note: No change to EAC's 2/25 decision to
not issue a Warden Message was made. End Note. The EAC's
pending request to the Department to authorize the return of
minor dependents to Post was also discussed. Key offices and
personnel represented included: AID, AMB, CONS, DAO, DCM,
FPD, MSG, OMC, ORCA, PD, POL/ECON, SOCE-Yemen, and RSO. End
Summary.

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Quiet Reaction to Designation of Zindani
--------------


2. (S/NF) EAC noted that ROYG, political party, general
public and media reaction to the 2/24 designation of Zindani
(refs A and B) remained low-key (details reported septel).
Ambassador said muted ROYG reaction reflects President
Saleh's stated desire to work with the U.S. and avoid turning
this designation into a contentious issue similar to
al-Moayed (ref E). RSO and PD noted that Friday mosque
sermons were quiet. The official statement of Islah
(Zindani's political party) placed the onus on the ROYG to
refute any charges, and uncorroborated reports stated that
Zindani canceled a press conference at Islah's request. EAC
agreed that no changes in security posture were needed at
this time but continued monitoring of the situation was
warranted.

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Recent Threat Reporting
--------------


3. (S/NF) EAC agreed that threat reporting in Ref C also
did not warrant change to Post's security posture because it
did not indicate an imminent threat, did not contain planning
specifics and, in ORCA's view, was not from a reliable
source.

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Return of Minor Dependents
--------------


4. (S/NF) DCM said the Embassy's request to the Department
for the return of minor dependents to Post (ref D) was under
review in the Department. RSO noted that he had confirmed to
DS that EAC had concurred on the request. The EAC remains
unanimous in support of the request.
HULL