SANAA EAC MEETING 20 APRIL 2005

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000998 SIPDIS NOFORN DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER EAC COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 20 APRIL 2005 REF: A. SANAA 968 ¶B. SANAA 955 ¶C. SANAA 912 ¶D. SANAA 896 ¶E. SANAA 895 ¶F. SANAA 891 ¶G. SANAA 883 ¶H. SANAA 882 ¶I. SANAA 876 ¶J. SANAA 875 ¶K. SANAA 863 ¶L. SANAA 860 ¶M. SANAA 836 Classified By: Classified by RSO Timothy Laas for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(S/NF) Begin Summary: The Ambassador convened an EAC meeting on April 20, 2005 to review the current threat, ongoing security measures and discuss changes in travel restriction policies. Although there continues to be reports of violence in the Saada region, the RSO reported that Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Sunidar of the Ministry of Interior opined, earlier in the day, that the security environment was appropriate for resumption of travel throughout Yemen. According to BG Sunidar, several persons suspected of being associated with Al-Huthi and the Saada insurrection had been arrested throughout Yemen. As a result of the arrests, BG Sunidar stated his belief that grenade attacks will be less likely throughout the country. The EAC agreed that current threat indicators point to a relatively safer environment and call for a relaxing of travel restrictions for embassy employees and the American community. However, the Ambassador cautioned that everyone should continue security measures recommended previously by the EAC to include variance of routes and routines. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting included: AMB, DCM, DAT, FPD, IPC, MO, LEGATT, POLE, RMAS, OMC, RSO, CONS, PD and USAID. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) Regarding the threat assessment, RMAS advised that another key member of the group per REFTELs, involved in planning attacks against Americans had been arrested. The RSO advised the EAC that during his conversation with BG Sunidar, the General stated that the threat which precipitated the closing of the American Embassy, was exaggerated and that no arrests had ever been made. Furthermore, BG Sunidar said that Yemen had never been safer. (Comment: The EAC expressed surprise that BG Sunidar believed no arrests had been made considering the fact that President Saleh advised Ambassador Krajeski earlier in the month, that arrests had been made. End Comment.) ¶3. (S/NF) The RSO advised the EAC that he met with several non-governmental organizations who have offices in Tourist City, located directly across from the Embassy. The organization attending the meeting discussed their security concerns and solicited security advice from the RSO. The committee agreed to form a more formal emergency action team that would meet periodically with the RSO in the future to ensure better security focus and received a commitment from the RSO to provide security surveys for their office spaces in the near future. RSO noted that the NGO meeting included recommendations for: Perimeter security; Upgrades in access control; Guard training; and Security policy development. ¶4. (SBU) The Management Officer briefed the EAC on the difficulties involved with requests from embassy dependents who are requesting travel to other danger posts for their selected safe havens while on authorized departure status. A discussion followed on measures the embassy could take to obtain clarification on the matter, due to the fact that two dependents have requested alternative safe havens. ¶5. (S/NF) The EAC discussed whether or not to continue the security measures currently in place. The DCM pointed out that the British Embassy sent out a warden message recently that advised that, with the exception of the Saada area, they were relaxing travel restrictions in Yemen. The EAC agreed that due to the information available it did appear that the arrests of the persons planning attacks against Americans and the arrests of Al Huthi followers, has diminished the threat to Americans in country. The EAC unanimously agreed to relax travel restrictions for the embassy and to send out a warden message to that effect. The EAC agreed also to advise Americans to continue to practice good security measures of varying times and routes of travel. The EAC agreed to meet to discuss whether and when to request the lifting of authorized departure status during the next EAC meeting. ¶6. (SBU) The EAC decided to reconvene immediately following the Country Team Meeting at 1430 hours, on Sunday, April 24, 2005 to discuss the issues of authorized departure and the security situation. Krajeski