MOI ALIMI: WE GOT THE SA/LW MESSAGE

S E C R E T SANAA 000651

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015
TAGS: PREL ETTC PARM PHUM IZ SA YM
SUBJECT: MOI ALIMI: WE GOT THE SA/LW MESSAGE

REF: A. SANAA 564

B. SANAA 580

Classified By: CDA N. Khoury for reasons 1.4 (b. and d.)


1. (S) On March 16, Ambassador and DCM briefed Minister of
Interior Rashad al-Alimi on the March 10 conversation with
President Saleh concerning SA/LW (reftel A). Alimi replied
that the ROYG shares U.S. concerns over this issue and
confirmed that his Ministry received a copy of the
President's letter canceling old end-user certificates and
directing that all arms purchases be henceforth made through
ROYG officials (reftel B). Noting that FM Qirbi had tried to
limit private arms sales before, Alimi said that political
will exists today to work to dry up the illegal inflow,
outflow of weapons in Yemen


2. (S) Turning to Saudi-Yemen border cooperation, Alimi said
that on his recent visit, Saudi Minister of Interior Prince
Naif promised that KSA would spend seven billion Saudi Riyals
(1.8 billion USD) to enhance border security between the two
nations. The plan envisions parallel roads on both sides of
the fence and observation towers. In some areas, where no
one lives, the entire border would be closed. As a result of
the Naif trip, Alimi said that the Yemenis will be returning
24 imprisoned Saudis to KSA who were believed to have had
links to al-Qaida or were intending to travel illegally to
Iraq. Alimi added that the ROYG told Naif that they were
tired of hearing KSA complaints over weapon smuggling from
Yemen, the ROYG wanted Saudi action and help. Commenting
that their Gulf neighbors did not show much understanding of
Yemen's predicament, Alimi said that the weapons problem was
deeply rooted in the country's poverty, unemployment and
years of depending on smuggling for livelihood. Alimi did
say, however, that with proper resolve and assistance, Yemen
could resolve this problem once and for all.
Krajeski