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