AMBASSADOR DELIVERS ARMS BROKERS DEMARCHE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 002996

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/WRA RICHARD KIDD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2015
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER ETTC MASS YM DEMARCHE COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS ARMS BROKERS DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 163140

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (S) Summary. On October 16, Ambassador, along with UK
Ambassador Michael Gifford, delivered ref A demarche to
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Qirbi expressing concern over the
continued use of Yemeni arms dealers to procure weapons on
behalf of the Ministry of Defense (MOD). He noted that MOD
appears to be purchasing assault rifles in numbers that far
exceed their existing requirement. Ambassador acknowledged
ROYG efforts to inform supplier countries of President
Saleh's March pledge to cease using third-party arms dealers,
but stressed that more action was needed to control the
importation of small arms/light weapons (SA/LW) ahead of
Saleh's November visit to Washington. Qirbi requested
further information on the firms and individuals involved,
promising ROYG action "on any information you give us."
Qirbi said that he "is not surprised" that people are trying
to "get around" ROYG policies on SA/LW purchases. End
Summary.

--------------
Continued Use of Arms Brokers
--------------


2. (S) Ambassador informed Qirbi that the USG received
information that Yemeni arms dealers are attempting to
purchase massive quantities of SA/LW and related ammunition
from various foreign suppliers. He highlighted two deals,
one with a Bulgarian firm to import thousands of AK-47
assault rifles and another with a Belarussian firm to import
tens of thousands of Kalashnikov assault rifles. These
deals, Ambassador continued, contradict Saleh's firm
commitment to stop using third-party arms dealers to procure
weapons on behalf of MOD. He also noted that MOD appeared to
have direct knowledge of these deals, despite being ordered
by Saleh to void all End User Certificates (EUC) previously
issued to private dealers.


3. (S) Ambassador acknowledged ROYG efforts to inform
supplier countries of Saleh's pledge, as well as working
through international organizations to address the issue of
SA/LW proliferation. Concerns, however, over MOD's continued
use of private arms dealers will be discussed during Saleh's
visit to Washington, said Ambassador. He reiterated that the
USG would support the ROYG's legitimate military needs by
helping destroy old weapons and creating an inventory system
to better manage existing weapons stocks.


4. (S) UK Ambassador emphasized UK support for the joint
demarche, saying that the continued use of arms dealers
"affects our confidence in Yemen's ability to deliver on
counter-terrorism issues." A regularized procurement system
to meet MOD's legitimate military needs must be created, he
continued, to stop weapons from ending up in the hands of
terrorists.

--------------
Qirbi: We're Trying, Please Help
--------------


5. (S) Qirbi responded that Saleh's pledge still held, but
added "I'm not surprised people are trying to get around our
policy." He explained that all embassies were instructed
not to approve any arms deals without first notifying the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qirbi requested details on the
arms deals, saying the ROYG "will act on any information you
give us."


6. (S) After asking the Ambassador's and his own notetakers
to leave the room, Qirbi mentioned that the ROYG received
intelligence on the Bulgarian deal through a Yemeni embassy
(Note: Qirbi did not specify which embassy). He said a
Bulgarian offered to sell information about the arms deals.
A ROYG official requested a meeting to further discuss the
issue, but the Bulgarian informant never returned. The
embassy attempted to follow up but was unable to reestablish
contact. On other ROYG actions to stop arms deals, Qirbi
added that Yemen's two biggest arms dealers, Faris Mana and
Ahmed Jerman, had been informed directly that they could no
longer purchase weapons on behalf of MOD.

--------------
Comment
--------------

7. (S) Comment: Qirbi's comments indicate that some elements
within the ROYG may be actively pursuing reports of the
continued use of private arms dealers, when intelligence is
received. Without support from MOD, however, intelligence
and the ROYG's ability to stop such deals is limited. As
seen during efforts to win Saleh's pledge against the use of
third-party dealers, the most effective tool in securing
Yemeni cooperation is to provide detailed information on both
the Yemeni and foreign companies involved.


8. (S) Post requests detailed information on the arms deals
and the companies involved to share with the ROYG in order to
support their efforts to stop third-party arms deals. End
Comment.
Krajeski