MHR SOSWA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR UNDP NOMINATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002412

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2015
TAGS: KDEM KMPI KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: MHR SOSWA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR UNDP NOMINATION


Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. In a meeting with Ambassador on August 17,
Human Rights Minister Amat al-Alim Soswa asked the USG to
support her nomination to the United Nations Development
Program Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS). She also
briefed Ambassador on a ROYG initiative to increase women in
government, and indicated that she would invite Secretary
Rice to a Women's Rights conference in November. End Summary.

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Soswa to the UN?
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2. (C) Human Rights Minister Amat al-Alim Soswa met with
Ambassador to inform him that she is seeking the post of
Assistant Administrator and Regional Director of the United
Nations Development Program Regional Bureau for Arab States
(RBAS). Soswa, who indicated that she has already spoken to
UN officials about the position, would replace Dr. Rima
Khalaf who has held the position since June 2000. RBAS
publishes an annual Arab Human Development Report assessing
the state of political freedom and governance in the Middle
East.

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Request for Support
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3. (C) Soswa asked Ambassador for USG support for her
nomination. She notified Ambassador that the MFA sent a
request for support to Secretary Rice and that FM Qirbi would
deliver a formal request to Ambassador in the near future.
Soswa revealed that other Arab countries were also informed
and that she has already received positive responses from the
GCC, particularly Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Egypt has also
given her "positive indications," although she noted that it
might nominate its own candidate. Soswa said that neither
she nor the ROYG have formally approached other nations for
support, wanting first to raise the matter with the USG.
Soswa will be in the US in September for consultations at the
UN and to deliver a lecture at the Kennedy School of
Government.

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Signs of Frustration
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4. (C) The Minister expressed frustration with her current
position. "I'm really tired," she sighed, disclosing that
she was disappointed with the ROYG's current performance in
human rights. "It can be much better with just a little
effort," she observed, "I keep telling people to be vocal,
and I urge the USG to stay vocal."

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Women's Rights, Possible Invite to Secretary Rice
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5. (C) Soswa told Ambassador she expected another woman to
replace her as Human Rights Minister, although she did not
specify who. She disclosed that the ROYG would appoint three
women ministers and nominate a "large" number of females to
the Judiciary before Saleh's expected trip to Washington in
November. Soswa also mentioned her ministry is planning a
Women's Rights Conference November 20-22. She told
Ambassador that once dates were finalized, she would invite
Secretary Rice.

SIPDIS

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Comment: A Loss for Yemen
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6. (C) If Soswa takes the UNDP position, it would be a loss
for Yemen. She has been a strong, solitary advocate for
human rights and had many successes in taking on other ROYG
ministries toward that end. Although she is obviously
frustrated with ROYG's stagnation on human rights in the last
year, her desire to move on is more likely rooted in her wish
to support her family and be close to one of her daughters,
who will be attending university next year. Although it
would be a loss to post, USG support for such a strong and
effective human rights advocate is well warranted. End
Comment.
Krajeski