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.

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FM Calls For More "Frank" Discussion on CT Cooperation
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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).

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Off The Record
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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