ROYG PAPERS ON GMEI AND IRAQ/ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SANAA 000671

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2014
TAGS: PREL YM
SUBJECT: ROYG PAPERS ON GMEI AND IRAQ/ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT
FOR ARAB SUMMIT

Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for Reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.


2. (C) ROYG Foreign Minister convoked Ambassador on 3/22 to
pass for USG comment two papers on Iraq/Israel-Palestine and
the Greater Middle East Initiative (full text paras 7 and 8,
originals faxed to NEA/ARP) developed by the ROYG for the
Arab Summit . Qirbi recalled his February 2004 discussions
in Washington and Tampa during which American officials
expressed interest in Arab initiative in these areas. Qirbi
asked for any feedback before departing for Tunis 3/24 (see
action request para 6). He said he had shared both documents
with Saudi Prince Saud al-Faisal during his visit to Sana'a
3/21-22, and that the Prince's suggestions for modifications
were taken into account.

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Arab Summit Draft Resolution
on the Middle East Initiative
--------------


3. (C) Qirbi said the ROYG prepared a draft resolution for
the Arab Summit not just on the GMEI but on "all reform
initiatives." He noted two other draft reform resolutions
from Jordan and Egypt. The ROYG's position tracks closely
with Jordan's. Qirbi said Arab governments must address the
reform issue and not shy away from it. Full translated text
of reform resolution is in paragraph 7. In brief, Qirbi
highlighted the following:

-- leaders should address issue of modernization in Arab
world, including reform, public participation and democracy;

-- references made to the Sana'a Declaration and other
reform-oriented conferences in Doha, Manama, Amman and
Alexandria (Comment: MEPI-sponsored conferences);

-- the role of the Arab League in reforms;

-- reforms should take place all over the Arab world and not
just in a few countries;

-- participation from both governments and the public
important;

-- reforms should include economic, good governance
(including civil society),institution building, education.
Other issues to address include achieving peace in the Middle
East, freeing Middle East from Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD) and fighting terrorism.

-------------- --------------
Draft Yemeni Initiative to Restore Security and Stability
of Iraq and Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict
-------------- --------------


4. (C) When Ambassador asked Qirbi's opinion on the
Transitional Administrative Law, Qirbi said it was "very
good" with the exception of the right of any three
governorates to veto measures which could counter the wishes
of the majority. Full translated text of Iraq and
Arab-Israel resolution is in paragraph 8. In brief, Qirbi
only highlighted the following regarding Iraq:

-- a tri-partite group should be established to set up a road
map for Iraq, to include United Nations, Arab League and
Coalition members, with representatives from the Iraq
Governing Council; The plan should include the following:

-- the unity of Iraq must be maintained;

-- security should be established by an international force
under the United Nations;

-- occupying forces should leave the cities;

-- a General Assembly should be established to develop the
constitution and election law (that should include a
provision that parties should not be established along
religious or ethnic grounds);

-- Iraqi security forces must be established.

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Comment/Action Request
--------------


5. (C) Comment: The ROYG appears to be trying to find a
constructive position on both reform and Iraq/Arab-Israel
conflict to present at the Arab Summit. Regarding reform,
Yemen has benefited from MEPI and feels less threatened by
reform than some other Arab governments because the Yemeni
experience with political parties, elections, etc. has been
largely positive. End Comment.

6. (C) Action Request: If Department would like Post to
provide any comments to the ROYG regarding its resolution
(para 6),please provide points prior to FM Qirbi's departure
for Tunis early on 3/24.

--------------
Full Text of Arab Summit Draft Resolution
on the Middle East Initiative
--------------


7. (C) Informal translation of full text of draft reform
resolution follows.
Republic of Yemen
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Arab Summit Draft Resolution on the Middle East Initiative
Tunisia, March 29-30, 2004

-- From our belief in the importance of modernizing and
developing the mechanism of joint Arab work that will achieve
comprehensive and balanced development for all Arab states.

-- And emphasizing our conviction that the Arab reform
process is a whole that cannot be split and a common
responsibility of the rulers and peoples and that all
official and public efforts, therefore, must be incorporated
to accomplish the reform and provide an awakening Arab
atmosphere that brings about prosperity and development and
preserve the identity and faith of the Arab nation.

-- And from our belief that reforms must spring from the will
and conviction of the people and that the people's
peculiarities must be taken into consideration in order to
achieve the required results represented by justice, freedom,
democracy, public participation, activating the role of women
and construction of a knowledge society.

-- Conviction that dealing with political problems in the
Middle East through observance of international legitimacy
resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, liberation of
occupied Arab territories, the Iraqi issue, and to avoid
implementing double standards as is the case of possession of
WMD - all these form an entryway for the success of reform
steps in the region.

-- Starting from these all, and according to the clear Arab
position towards reform and democratic practice and human
rights which Sanaa Declaration has embodied, and the results
of conferences that were conducted in Amman, Manama, Doha and
Alexandria regarding democracy, freedom and reform, we decide:


1. To activate the role of the Arab League as a tool for Arab
joint work, make the necessary amendments to its charter so
that it will carry out its role in forming equivalent
Arab-Arab relations, and lead the reform process in parallel
steps in all Arab countries through official and public
contributions, issuing of conventions and agreements that
promote the democratic and human rights tracks and make their
protection a common Arab responsibility.


2. To set and implement a complete Arab strategy for reforms
with the public participation and free will that spring from
the aspirations of the peoples of the region, which will
accomplish minimum social movement for reform, considering
values, traditions, religious teachings and civilization
values.


3. To carry out economic reforms that will lead to the
enhancement of the common interests between Arab countries
through stepping gradually from Greater Arab Trade Zone, to
the Customs Union, to Arab Common Market, liberating markets,
establishment of development, investment and compensation
funds for the accomplishment of comprehensive economical and
development merger in all Arab countries. Participant
countries also called on to encourage this direction and to
dedicate the necessary support for it in addition to what the
Arab states are offering.


4. To make a foundation for peoples, participation through
forms of revival process within the framework of gradualness,
reality and transparency, and giving the citizens the right
for freedom of speech, establishing civil society
organizations, activation of women,s role in development and
granting her all political and social rights in a way that
doesn't conflict with the traditions and the true religious
teachings.


5. To work towards developing the institution building of
the state, the right governance, separation of authorities,
accountability, and the assurance of judiciary independence.

6. To take the necessary steps that ensure building the
knowledge society, promoting the educational systems, and
eliminating the obstacles that hinder the Arab world from
coping with the knowledge process or that which led to wrong
understandings of dealing with the others, along with the
emphasis on tolerant Islamic values that call for freedom,
justice, and respect of others beliefs.


7. To continue the efforts that aim to realize the just
comprehensive peace in the Middle East region, through
adhering to the Arab Peace Initiative, the Road Map, and
international resolutions. Work with the international
society for eliminating tension and violence from the region
by solving the Palestinian issue in accordance with the
treaties and resolutions that call for the establishing two
states, Palestinian and Israeli that live side by side in
peace and with total sovereignty and means of existence.
Also ending the occupation of the Syrian and Lebanese lands
and ending the occupation of Iraq through working with the
United Nations and Coalition powers and the Iraqi temporary
Authority, considering that solving these problems will
result to the stability of the region and will lead its
energies toward construction and development.


8. To work for making the Middle East region free of weapons
of mass destruction and compliance of all states, including
Israel, to the signing of the agreement of nuclear weapons,
because elimination of such weapons enhances elimination of
elements of doubt and fear among states of the region.


9. Commitment of all Arab states with the international
community in combating terrorism with the necessity to deal
with its reasons and differentiation between terrorism and
legitimate resistance to occupation.


10. Arab Foreign Ministers Council is assigned to make plans
and mechanism for achieving these objectives to be presented
to the Summit of 2005 for approval.

-------------- --
Full Text of Draft Yemeni Initiative to Restore
Security and Stability of Iraq and
Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict
-------------- --


8. (C) Informal translation of full text of draft initiative
follows.

Yemeni Initiative to Restore Security and Stability of Iraq
and Settle the Arab-Israel Conflict

First: The Iraqi Crisis:


1. Forming a tripartite committee including the United
Nations, the Arab League and the Coalition Forces along with
the Iraqi Governing Council. The committee will be
responsible for setting up a road map for Iraq. The plan
will be as follows:

(a) Guarantee of the unity of Iraqi territories,
confronting any secessionist tendencies, the withdrawal of
all foreign forces from Iraq and putting an end to
occupation.

(b) Setting up a security plan to restore security and
stability of Iraq and sending international forces to Iraq
under the supervision of the United Nations and the Arab
League.

(c) The withdrawal of occupation forces to camps outside of
the Iraqi cities upon the arrival of the international
forces.

(d) Forming a national society representing all sects and
races in order to formulate the Iraqi constitution under the
supervision of the above-mentioned tripartite committee and
conduct general elections within the period of a year. For
the elections, there must be an elections law that rejects
the establishment of any political parties based on race,
religion or sect and gets all political parties to represent
all the people of Iraq in order to ensure the creation of a
democratic, united and independent Iraq.

(e) Reformation of army and security forces according to a
patriotic basis with no doctrinal or racial loyalties. All
of this process must be finalized during a period of two
years and end with the withdrawal of the occupation forces
and the retention of the international forces.

Second: The Arab-Israeli Conflict:

The reinvigoration of the Quartet,s role in implementing the
Road Map in order to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict,
joining of the Arab League in the Quartet and considering the
Arab Peace Initiative a complementary part of the Road Map
provided that the Committee performs the following:


1. Sending international forces to separate Israelis and
Palestinians according to the borders of June 5, 1967.


2. Requesting both the Israeli and the Palestinian parties
to stop violence and announce a truce stipulated by a United
Nations Security Council resolution and in a way that leads
to the implementation of the Road Map, the commitment to the
relevant United Nations Security Council,s resolutions in
particular resolutions Nos. 242 and 338 and the establishment
of the Palestinian State based on the borders of June 5,

1967.


3. The announcement of an Arab decision stipulating the
unity of the Palestinian factions under a united leadership
formed of all parties.


4. Making efforts to remove the racist separation wall.


5. Launching the process of reconstruction of Palestine with
all its organizations and in particular the security
organizations.


6. The withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Syrian and
Lebanese territories in the framework of a timeline plan and
Arab-Israeli agreement that ensures both Arab and Israel
rights.


7. Committing to the announcement of Middle East Region
being free from weapons of mass destruction and placing a
plan to eliminate them from all the regions countries
including Israel.


8. Holding a peace conference for the Region States after
the announcement of establishing the Palestinian State and
the removal of the weapons of mass destruction from the
region and the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab
territories.
HULL