EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO REVIVE QATARI MEDIATION

S E C R E T SANAA 002124 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/ARP FOR NATASHA FRANCESCHI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PINS QA YM SUBJECT: EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO REVIVE QATARI MEDIATION Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. According to Presidential advisor Abdul Karim al-Eryani, Qatari FM Hamid bin Jassim has undertaken efforts to revive his government's stalled efforts to mediate an end to hostilities between the ROYG and the rebellious al-Houthi tribe in the northern governorate of Saada. Noting the resumption of skirmishes in the area, Eryani expressed his conviction that the ROYG cannot defeat the Houthis by conventional military means. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Former Yemeni PM and long-time Presidential advisor Abdul Karim al-Eryani told the Ambassador November 15 that Qatari FM Hamid bin Jassim (HBJ) has agreed to try and revive his government's stalled mediation effort between the ROYG and rebellious followers of Abdul Malik al-Houthi in the northern governorate of Saada. Eryani, who has been personally involved in the negotiations, said that he had persuaded the Qataris to re-engage, arguing that their efforts thus far had succeeded in saving lives and that, conversely, their withdrawal would remove any inhibitions either party felt about unleashing further violence. ¶3. (C) According to Eryani, HBJ proposed a meeting in Doha between ROYG officials and al-Houthi representatives as a way to revive the mediation efforts, a plan agreed to by President Saleh and Gen. Ali Muhsin, military commander of the Northwest Region, which includes Saada governorate. However, Eryani noted, their agreement was contingent upon the participation of rebellion leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi and his deputy. The Houthis rejected this condition, nominating instead their Sana,a representative, Salah Habra, and Yahya al-Houthi, who resides outside of Yemen. (Note: Eryani said that Habra is well-known to the ROYG, and regularly carries messages between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in Saada. End Note.) Eryani said he conveyed this counter-proposal to Saleh, who initially dismissed it; "now he is thinking it over," Eryani observed. ¶4. (C) Meanwhile, according to Eryani, skirmishes have resumed in Saada, following a period of relative calm during which the Houthi rebels dug new trenches and re-armed themselves. They also are establishing "beachheads" in neighboring Hajja governorate, he asserted. He said that the Houthis are embittered because of what they claim is a failure by the ROYG to give up positions it had agreed to vacate as part of the Qatari mediation; Eryani said ROYG forces continue to occupy farms and houses, especially in the vicinity of two specific areas, one of which he identified as Haidan (Note: phonetic spelling. End Note). ¶5. (S) Comment. Eryani,s conviction that the Houthis cannot be defeated by conventional means does not yet appear to be shared by the ROYG, which, in addition to maintaining its military presence in sensitive areas - has resumed, and is expected to escalate, military operations. End Comment. SECHE