DAS CARPENTER AND SALEH FOCUS ON FORUM FOR FUTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001099

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: PREL KDEM MOPS PGOV LY IR YM
SUBJECT: DAS CARPENTER AND SALEH FOCUS ON FORUM FOR FUTURE
AND SAADA

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


1. This is an action request; see paragraph five.


2. (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Carpenter
met with President Saleh on June 2 to discuss the Forum for
the Future, which Sanaa will host this December, and
U.S.-Yemeni relations, with a focus on assistance. The
President also raised the conflict in Saada, explaining that
the ROYG remains committed to a peaceful settlement, and is
currently focusing on dialogue with the al-Houthi
insurrectionists. The President announced that he instructed
his Minister of Interior and Prime Minister to have an open
dialogue with the al-Houthis, to reiterate the ROYG stance
that they must hand over their weapons in return for their
guaranteed safety. Saleh also presented the DAS with a new
dialogue initiative that he is soon to publish, which calls
for grievances to be aired and resolved through a dialogue
platform in the United Nations. END SUMMARY

Forum for the Future
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3. (C) DAS Carpenter related details about the Forum for the
Future and its purpose, citing examples of past forums and
stressing the needed cooperation of the ROYG with civil
society and the press to make it a success. DAS Carpenter
outlined the agenda of the Forum and named press freedom,
electoral freedom, anti-corruption, registration of voters,
and redistricting as big issues. He advised the President as
to the importance of this Forum and said it is expected to
bring the Secretary to Yemen, along with numerous other
foreign dignitaries. DAS Carpenter informed Saleh that he is
currently in Sanaa to attend the first preparatory meeting of
G-8 members and former BMENA chairs of the Forum, including
this year's Yemeni delegation, headed by Deputy FM Mohy
al-Dhabi. Carpenter said that there has been tremendous
democratic progress in Yemen, which is part of the reason why
Sanaa was chosen as host city. The President responded
positively, noting that the ROYG was working hard on naming a
board to administer Yemen's new independent anti-corruption
body.

Saada: We Want Dialogue
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4. (C) The President then raised the issue of Saada,
explaining that the ROYG remains committed to a peaceful
settlement to the conflict, and is currently focusing on
dialogue with the al-Houthis. The President instructed his
Minister of Interior and Prime Minister to have an open
dialogue with the rebels, principally to reiterate the ROYG
stance that the al-Houthis must hand over their weapons in
return for their guaranteed safety. Saleh also asked DAS
Carpenter and the Ambassador if they could press Libya
diplomatically to "stay out of Saada affairs." Saleh remained
staunch in his stance that the Iranians and Libyans were
involved in the conflict, explaining that the Iranian
government says one thing, yet Iranian radio and television
broadcasts say another and incite violence. Saleh said that
since the USG is now on a "honeymoon" with the Libyans, we
need to ask them to "stop financially supporting the
al-Houthis." Saleh ended his conversation on Saada by saying
that the military's position vis-a-vis the rebels is
improving.


5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post recommends that the Department
consider approaching the Libyans to make clear to them our
policy that Saada is strictly an internal Yemeni matter, and
that other nations should not provide material or financial
assistance to the rebels.


6. (C) COMMENT: December's Forum for the Future will be the
most important and logistically challenging event that Yemen
has ever hosted, and will require close and intensive
bilateral consultations to be successful. This visit by DAS
Carpenter was a good first step in that process. The
international spotlight that will shine on Yemen in the
months leading up to this gathering will also be a useful
catalyst for Saleh to resolve the unrest in Saada and make
further progress on reforms in order to avoid embarrassment
for his government. Whatever support the rebels may or may
not be receiving from Iran and Libya, we continue to believe

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that the conflict can only be resolved through meaningful
dialogue on a political settlement with the al-Houthis'
supporters and significant economic development for Saada.
END COMMENT


7. (U) DAS Carpenter did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable.
KRAJESKI