CDA DELIVERS SECURITY COUNCIL ENLARGEMENT DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001908 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2015 TAGS: PREL YM UNGA DEMARCHE SUBJECT: CDA DELIVERS SECURITY COUNCIL ENLARGEMENT DEMARCHE REF: STATE 126870 Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) CDA delivered ref A demarche on Security Council enlargement to Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi on July 13. CDA stressed that successful UN reform depended on building consensus on a wide variety of issues, rather than focusing too much energy on a potentially divisive topic such as UNSC expansion. Qirbi agreed that other areas of reform, including administrative, should take precedence over Security Council expansion. ¶2. (C) Qirbi reiterated the ROYG's long-standing support for Japan and Germany as permanent UNSC members. At the moment, said Qirbi, ROYG policy is to support the G-4 expansion plan, but added that when it came time to vote "it might be a different story." He also expressed concern that the G-4 plan, with its focus on regional representation, could create serious divisions within Africa and Asia that would detract from the organization's ability to address important issues like counterterrorism. ¶3. (C) Comment: The ROYG strongly supports the inclusion of Japan and Germany as permanent Security Council members. While they may continue to publicly support the G-4 plan, Qirbi's comments indicate that an affirmative ROYG vote on the proposal is by no means guaranteed. Yemen may still prove to be a useful ally on Security Council expansion and UN reform in general. Khoury