DFM COMMITS TO WORK FOR BADAWI MONITORING AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002299 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV YM SUBJECT: DFM COMMITS TO WORK FOR BADAWI MONITORING AND AL-NAETI INTERVIEW REF: A. SANAA 2202 ¶B. SANAA 2151 Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- 1 (C) On November 11, the Ambassador gained from Deputy Foreign Minister al-Dhabbi a commitment to work toward an on-demand visitation program for monitoring the incarceration of Jamal al-Badawi. Al-Dhabbi also agreed to continue efforts to facilitate a meeting with Yemeni Jewish woman Ninwe al-Naeti. End Summary. MONITORING BADAWI -------------- ¶2. (C) On November 11, in a 45-minute meeting, the Ambassador told Deputy Foreign Minister Mohy al-Dhabbi that sentiment in the USG remains strong for placing Jamal al-Badawi in U.S. custody. The Ambassador then noted that, while negotiations concerning Badawi continue, post and the ROYG need to put in place procedures to reassure the USG that Badawi remains in PSO custody in Sana'a. The Ambassador had previously raised this issue with Foreign Minister al-Qirbi (ref a) and Minister of Interior al-Alimi (ref b). Al-Dhabbi asked the Ambassador to suggest options and the Ambassador reiterated that electronic monitoring and on-demand visitation by embassy personnel were two choices. Al-Dhabbi said that, in his discussions with other ROYG officials, the consensus was that on-demand visitation by embassy personnel would likely be workable. The Ambassador noted that the next step would be for embassy personnel to negotiate the details with senior PSO and/or NSB officials. Al-Dhabbi said that he would pursue the issue with all relevant ROYG agencies, but noted that the plan would ultimately have to be approved by President Saleh. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador also raised the issue of a senior-level U.S. delegation visiting Yemen to discuss the Badawi issue (septel). NINWE AL-NAETI -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador asked once again for al-Dhabbi's assistance in arranging an interview in the office of the Governor of Amran with allegedly kidnapped Yemeni Jewish woman Ninwe al-Naeti for Minister of Human Rights Dr. Huda al-Ban and poloff. The Ambassador added that he would like to see the interview take place this week so that the issue might be clarified prior to the December 14th arrival of the Special Envoy for Combating Anti-Semitism. Al-Dhabbi noted that the issue had become an opportunity for local sheikhs to show their importance and voiced his fear that, if it were handled poorly, it could degenerate into a competition between sheikhs, which would make resolving the case much more complicated. He added, however, that he would pass the message to Interior Minister al-Alimi and work together with him to bring about the interview. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador also passed to al-Dhabbi the names of four men identified by Reyda Jewish community leader Faiz al-Garadi as the primary instigators of the threats and intimidation faced by the Jewish community in Reyda. The Deputy Foreign Minister said he would pass the information to al-Alimi as well. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Al-Dhabbi referred to his hope to "close the book" on the Badawi case and pressed the Ambassador for specific dates for the Secretary's participation in the Forum for the Future. This underlines the continuing misapprehension on the part of the ROYG that its relationship with the U.S. has turned a corner and that it will soon be able to put the Badawi case behind it. SECHE