Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANAA1950
2007-10-27 18:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
EMBASSY FOLLOW-UP TO MCC SIGNING CEREMONY
how-toVZCZCXRO1230 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHYN #1950 3001805 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271805Z OCT 07 ZDK CTG RUEHST 9914 3001824 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8234 INFO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001950
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP FOR NATASHA FRANCESCHI, DEPT FOR USAID/ANE/MEA JWOOD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2017
TAGS: AID EAID ECON EFIN KMCA PREL YM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY FOLLOW-UP TO MCC SIGNING CEREMONY
POSTPONEMENT
REF: SANAA 09135
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001950
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP FOR NATASHA FRANCESCHI, DEPT FOR USAID/ANE/MEA JWOOD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2017
TAGS: AID EAID ECON EFIN KMCA PREL YM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY FOLLOW-UP TO MCC SIGNING CEREMONY
POSTPONEMENT
REF: SANAA 09135
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 27 meeting with the Deputy
Foreign Minister, the Ambassador emphasized that the ROYG's
release of convicted terrorist Jamal al-Badawi had led the
Millennium Challenge Corporation to postpone indefinitely the
signing of the Threshold Country Plan (TCP) signing ceremony.
Two deputy Ministers of Planning and International
Cooperation expressed their regret to the USAID Director that
President Saleh's decision to release al-Badawi appeared to
be insensitive to the families of the USS Cole victims.
However, they expect a quick solution to this issue. END
SUMMARY
2. (C) The morning after being notified that the Millennium
Challenge Corporation had decided to postpone indefinitely
the October 31 MCC Threshold Country Plan signing ceremony,
the Ambassador and USAID Mission Director reached out to the
ROYG. The Ambassador told ROYG Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohi-Adeen al-Dhabbi that the MCC signing ceremony would be
indefinitely postponed because the release of convicted
terrorist al-Badawi (reftel) was so offensive that the U.S.
Government was not able to sign a historically symbolic
agreement with ROYG at this time. The Ambassador emphasized
that until this situation is resolved and al-Badawi returned
to prison, the U.S. Government will not be able to sign the
MCC agreement. He warned al-Dhabbi that al-Badawi's release
might even create obstacles to other avenues of bilateral
cooperation.
3. (C) Al-Dhabbi promised to convey the Ambassador's message
at the appropriate levels of the ROYG and to obtain a ROYG
response as soon as possible. In addition, he said that he
would relay the Ambassador's message to President Ali
Abdullah Saleh, currently in Aden. The Ambassador said that
he would be prepared to deliver the message to President
Saleh himself.
4. (C) Also on October 27, the USAID Mission Director
telephoned Deputy Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Hesham Abdullah in Aden and personally met Deputy
MOPIC Minister for Projects and Programs Abdullah al-Shatter
to inform them of the MCC's decision. (Note: MOPIC Minister
al-Arhabi is en route to Yemen and out of contact. End
Note.) Both deputy ministers expressed their "full
understanding," noting the "bad timing" of President Saleh's
decision to release al-Badawi a few days before the MCC
signing ceremony, and added that they understood "the
sensitivities of the American people about this issue."
Abdullah opined that Saleh hadn't considered how the American
people would react and said that Saleh's decision "requires
clarification." Al-Shatter expressed that he understood that
President Saleh's decision was insensitive to the American
people, particularly to the families of the USS Cole victims.
They expect a quick resolution to this issue and hope Yemen
and the United States can soon proceed to the MCC TCP signing
ceremony. Abdullah conveyed the USAID Director's message to
Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar (who was seated in the
room with him). According to Abdullah, the Prime Minister
indicated that he fully understood the USAID Director's
message.
5. (C) Presumably as a result of these conversations, at
approximately 3:30 PM Sana'a time on October 27, President
Saleh's interpreter informed the Ambassador that Saleh wished
to telephone Presidential Advisor Frances Townsend.
6. (C) Comment: Ambassador received an informal readout of
this phone call from Townsend deputy Juan Zarate, who said
that Saleh had insisted that Badawi was released in order to
gain his cooperation in bringing other extremists still
at-large into custody, and that returning him to prison would
thwart this effort. He also promised FBI and RAO access to
Badawi, which we will insist upon during a scheduled meeting
with PSO chief Garmish in the coming days. End Commment.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP FOR NATASHA FRANCESCHI, DEPT FOR USAID/ANE/MEA JWOOD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2017
TAGS: AID EAID ECON EFIN KMCA PREL YM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY FOLLOW-UP TO MCC SIGNING CEREMONY
POSTPONEMENT
REF: SANAA 09135
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 27 meeting with the Deputy
Foreign Minister, the Ambassador emphasized that the ROYG's
release of convicted terrorist Jamal al-Badawi had led the
Millennium Challenge Corporation to postpone indefinitely the
signing of the Threshold Country Plan (TCP) signing ceremony.
Two deputy Ministers of Planning and International
Cooperation expressed their regret to the USAID Director that
President Saleh's decision to release al-Badawi appeared to
be insensitive to the families of the USS Cole victims.
However, they expect a quick solution to this issue. END
SUMMARY
2. (C) The morning after being notified that the Millennium
Challenge Corporation had decided to postpone indefinitely
the October 31 MCC Threshold Country Plan signing ceremony,
the Ambassador and USAID Mission Director reached out to the
ROYG. The Ambassador told ROYG Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohi-Adeen al-Dhabbi that the MCC signing ceremony would be
indefinitely postponed because the release of convicted
terrorist al-Badawi (reftel) was so offensive that the U.S.
Government was not able to sign a historically symbolic
agreement with ROYG at this time. The Ambassador emphasized
that until this situation is resolved and al-Badawi returned
to prison, the U.S. Government will not be able to sign the
MCC agreement. He warned al-Dhabbi that al-Badawi's release
might even create obstacles to other avenues of bilateral
cooperation.
3. (C) Al-Dhabbi promised to convey the Ambassador's message
at the appropriate levels of the ROYG and to obtain a ROYG
response as soon as possible. In addition, he said that he
would relay the Ambassador's message to President Ali
Abdullah Saleh, currently in Aden. The Ambassador said that
he would be prepared to deliver the message to President
Saleh himself.
4. (C) Also on October 27, the USAID Mission Director
telephoned Deputy Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Hesham Abdullah in Aden and personally met Deputy
MOPIC Minister for Projects and Programs Abdullah al-Shatter
to inform them of the MCC's decision. (Note: MOPIC Minister
al-Arhabi is en route to Yemen and out of contact. End
Note.) Both deputy ministers expressed their "full
understanding," noting the "bad timing" of President Saleh's
decision to release al-Badawi a few days before the MCC
signing ceremony, and added that they understood "the
sensitivities of the American people about this issue."
Abdullah opined that Saleh hadn't considered how the American
people would react and said that Saleh's decision "requires
clarification." Al-Shatter expressed that he understood that
President Saleh's decision was insensitive to the American
people, particularly to the families of the USS Cole victims.
They expect a quick resolution to this issue and hope Yemen
and the United States can soon proceed to the MCC TCP signing
ceremony. Abdullah conveyed the USAID Director's message to
Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar (who was seated in the
room with him). According to Abdullah, the Prime Minister
indicated that he fully understood the USAID Director's
message.
5. (C) Presumably as a result of these conversations, at
approximately 3:30 PM Sana'a time on October 27, President
Saleh's interpreter informed the Ambassador that Saleh wished
to telephone Presidential Advisor Frances Townsend.
6. (C) Comment: Ambassador received an informal readout of
this phone call from Townsend deputy Juan Zarate, who said
that Saleh had insisted that Badawi was released in order to
gain his cooperation in bringing other extremists still
at-large into custody, and that returning him to prison would
thwart this effort. He also promised FBI and RAO access to
Badawi, which we will insist upon during a scheduled meeting
with PSO chief Garmish in the coming days. End Commment.
SECHE