AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGES ROYG SUPPORT FOR IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000348 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO G/NICOLE BIBBINS SEDACA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2015 TAGS: ASEC PREL IZ YM DEMARCHE SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGES ROYG SUPPORT FOR IRAQI TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT REF: STATE 30179 Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On February 21 Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Qirbi, stressing that he hoped the ROYG would move quickly and vocally to support the new government and the constitutional process. Qirbi replied that a February 20 ruling GPC party communique states "the ROYG hopes that the elections in Iraq will lead to increased stability and that all Iraqis will participate in the drafting of the new constitution." ¶2. (C) Ambassador told Qirbi that we have every indication that the ITG will be inclusive. He pointed to initial statements by Shiite and Kurdish leaders emphasizing the need for Sunni participation in drafting the constitution, and in the entire political process. Yemen has taken a public stand supporting democracy in the region, Ambassador pressed Qirbi -- "What you say matters." Given Yemen's prominence in regional democratization efforts, continued the Ambassador, high-level public ROYG support for the political process in Iraq is called for. Krajeski