PSI: REQUEST TO ENDORSE STATEMENT OF INTERDICTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000877 SIPDIS PASS TO NP, T AND EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2014 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PREL PARM YM SUBJECT: PSI: REQUEST TO ENDORSE STATEMENT OF INTERDICTION PRINCIPLES DELIVERED REF: A. SECSTATE 79456 ¶B. 03 SANAA 2487 ¶C. 03 SANAA 2260 ¶D. 03 SECSTATE 272470 Classified By: A/DCM Douglas Heisler for reasons 1.5 (b and d) ¶1. (c) On April 12, Pol/Econ Chief met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of the Two Americas Office Abdul-Malik Abdul-Ghani Saleh and his Deputy, Dirham al-Saidi to review the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) and request that the ROYG make a public statement of support for both in advance of the anniversary meeting in Krakow (ref a). Pol/Econ Chief provided an additional copy of the questions and answers on PSI (ref d) and reminded Saleh and al-Saidi that the previous director had assured her that the information on PSI was passed to the responsible parties in the foreign minister's office, the prime ministry, and the presidency (refs b and c). Pol/Econ Chief also reiterated earlier requests for the ROYG's views on how the principles could be incorporated into counter-terrorism efforts, as well as whether there are legal or other impediments to supporting PSI or the SOP. Saleh and al-Saidi did not provide any substantive comment, but requested the SOP in Arabic as soon as possible. On April 13, however, al-Saidi called Pol/Econ Chief to confirm that the USG request had been forwarded to the Foreign Minister. ¶2. (c) Neither Saleh nor al-Saidi were aware of the September 2003 letter from the UK Ambassador to Yemen to FM Qirbi requesting that Yemen publicly support the PSI. On April 14, Pol/Econ Chief spoke with British Ambassador Frances Guy, who confirmed that the UK has not received a response to either her September 14, 2003, meeting with FM Qirbi or the subsequent letter. She said she followed-up with Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, the Americas and International Organizations Mustapha Noman on February 11, but he has not yet delivered on his assurances to get her a response. ¶3. (c) Comment: The lack of any response, despite US efforts and UK appeals directly to the FM, indicates that Yemen may not be entirely comfortable with the PSI and its SOP. Post will continue to work with our British counterparts and other G-8 partners, as appropriate, to seek Yemeni support for the initiative. End comment. HULL