KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: YEMENI GCC ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002559 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016 TAGS: PREL EAID KU DEMARCHE SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: YEMENI GCC ASSISTANCE REQUEST REF: STATE 96305 Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (C) The Charge delivered reftel demarche June 27, 2006 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah. He explained the U.S. shared GCC concerns about Yemeni stability and security and the impact on the broader Gulf region. He encouraged the GCC to play a greater role in promoting stability and development in Yemen, stressing the importance of transparency in the provision of financial assistance and recommending GCC states also consider security assistance and counterterrorism cooperation. Al-Jarallah welcomed the demarche, commenting it was a firm signal of U.S. interest in Yemen's future. He said, "Yemen is a real challenge for us... we feel we have to do something." To that end, representatives of the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Saudi Fund for Development, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and the new Qatar fund recently met in Riyadh with Yemeni officials to discuss the projects presented to the GCC. Al-Jarallah added that talks are ongoing, but said the four funds would work together to help Yemen. He further agreed that care should be taken to avoid corruption and graft and noted the development funds were not the proper channel for consideration of security of CT assistance. The CDA encouraged the GCC to explore means by which security assistance could be offered. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER