YEMENIS SUPPORTIVE OF SOMALI PARLIAMENTARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000212

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS SUPPORTIVE OF SOMALI PARLIAMENTARY
SESSION, ASK USG TO PRESS OTHER ARAB LEAGUE MEMBERS FOR
FUNDING SUPPORT

REF: A. STATE 14531 (NOTAL)


B. ZORICK-HOOD TELCON 1/16/2006

C. NAIROBI 210

D. NAIROBI 260

Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS C. KRAJESKI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) Ambassador delivered points contained in refs A and B
to Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi during a January 16
meeting. Ambassador welcomed the efforts of Somali leaders,
as well as facilitation efforts by the Republic of Yemen
Government (ROYG),to hold a full parliamentary session
inside Somalia. Ambassador urged the ROYG to use its
influence with Somali leaders to ensure their participation
in the session, and to ensure that there are no perceptions
of external pressures that could provide an excuse to some
Somalis not to attend.


2. (C) The FonMin assured Ambassador that Yemen "had no
agenda" other than to provide a venue for the Transitional
Federal Government President and Speaker of Parliament to
"sit together and talk," as they did in Aden earlier in the
month. "Our interest," he said, "is to see a legitimate
Somali government in control with strong institutions." It
is especially important to wrest control of Mogadishu from
the Islamic groups and "businessmen with militias." He said
the businessmen can be dealt with economically, but the
"extremists will be a different story." Qirbi stressed that
the Somalis will require financial and logistical support if
a full parliamentary session is to succeed.


3. (C) In a briefing for U.S., EU and Russian heads of
mission on January 25, the Foreign Minister welcomed U.S.
statements of support for the full parliamentary session, and
asked for international financial backing for the session to
be held in Baidoa. Qirbi noted that the Arab League had
established a USD 20 million fund to promote peace and
stability in Somalia, but only Yemen and Algeria had paid
their shares. The FonMin asked the USG and others to press
other Arab League members to pay their contributions and use
a portion of the funds to support the parliamentary session.


4. (C) Ambassador said he would pass the request on to
Washington for consideration, adding that another major way
in which Yemen and other countries could support the Somali
peace process is by respecting the UN arms embargo. Qirbi
replied that it would be "imperative to take a fresh look" at
the embargo if the Somali government re-assembles. "We want
to support a legitimate Somali government that can defend
itself," he said.
Krajeski