FM QIRBI DISCUSSES HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO

S E C R E T SANAA 001907 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2015 TAGS: PREL OVIP PTER PARM YM DOMESTIC POLITICS COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: FM QIRBI DISCUSSES HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO WASHINGTON WITH CHARGE Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary. In a July 13 meeting with CDA, Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi confirmed his plans to travel to Washington in advance of President Saleh's November meeting with President Bush. Qirbi pulled CDA aside and confided President Saleh,s concerns over U.S. Embassy contacts with members of the Islamist opposition party as well as the President's ability to deliver on his SA/LW promises. Qirbi expressed his own concern on fighting corruption, asking us to lead the European embassies in a full-court press on the issue. End Summary. -------------- -------------- FM Calls For More "Frank" Discussion on CT Cooperation -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) FM Qirbi expressed satisfaction with bilateral relations, saying he looked forward to using the visit to assess current problems and explore ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the area of counterterrorism. "We should do better," said the FM, calling for a "more frank discussion" on CT issues. CDA applauded Qirbi's efforts to improve coordination, something that the USG has been trying to achieve with the ROYG for some time. ¶3. (C) In terms of specific meetings, CDA informed Qirbi that post had yet to receive confirmation of Secretary Rice's availability, but would notify him when a response was received. (Note: CDA relayed to MFA on July 16 that the Secretary would indeed be able to meet with the FM during his SIPDIS visit. End note). -------------- Off The Record -------------- ¶4. (S) After the discussion of the visit, Qirbi asked notetakers to leave and raised the following concerns with CDA: -- President Saleh was concerned, said Qirbi, about Embassy contacts with Islamist oppositionists. Qirbi asked if we could reassure the President on the purpose of these meetings. CDA replied that our contacts are with Islamists are limited to Yemen,s legal opposition, the Islah party, whose leader is the Speaker of Parliament -- hardly an underground opposition. CDA asked Qirbi to reassure the President that those contacts aim to support democracy and encourage dialogue among the various legal parties in the country and did not constitute in any shape or from a threat or challenge to the President. Qirbi said that he understood and agreed, but that the President needed to be constantly reassured on that score. -- Corruption: Qirbi wanted CDA to know that he shared the opinion of other liberal-minded Yemenis that an anti-corruption campaign was essential for Yemen,s development. He complimented CDA on his recent stress on corruption in discussions with Ministry of Planning and other ROYG officials, suggesting that we encourage European Embassies and the World Bank to also be very serious on that front. "The U.S. should lead the Europeans and the international organizations here in pushing this agenda in Yemen," said the FM. -- SA/LW: Qirbi confided that the ROYG was having trouble implementing its promises to end the arms trade and stem the flow of illicit SA/LW into and out of Yemen. "The President is sincere," said Qirbi, "but there are others in the country and even inside the Ministry of Defense who are thwarting his efforts." CDA replied that we had indeed noted some wavering in this regard. ROYG attempts to stop the trade have been noted, CDA told the FM, but so have lapses in the form of continued use of EUCs by arms dealers. CDA reassured Qirbi that the USG was willing to help, but that the President must garner the political will and make his resolve crystal clear to all those involved in the illegal trade. Khoury