DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH YEMENI FM ABU BAKR AL-QIRBI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001192

SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP and NEA/IR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2018
TAGS: PREL KDEM PTER YM
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH YEMENI FM ABU BAKR AL-QIRBI

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: Meeting on the margins of the October 19 Forum for
the Future ministerial in Abu Dhabi, Deputy Secretary Negroponte
heard from Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi that Yemen was
committed to parliamentary elections in spite of the "headache" of
democracy. He blamed the emergence of the Al-Houthi rebellion on
Iranian efforts to influence the region. Al-Qirbi assured the Deputy
that Jamal Al-Badawi, the Yemeni convicted in the USS Cole bombing,
is in Yemeni custody and facing further legal procedures. Al-Qirbi
said the sophistication of the recent attack on AmEmbassy Sana'a
suggested a new approach by Al Qaeda -- while not necessarily growing
in strength or number, the organization is being led in a new
direction. Lamenting the three-fold increase in refugees from the
Horn of Africa in recent months, Al-Qirbi said Yemen has asked
European envoys to help safeguard the coastline from Somali pirates.
He noted rehabilitation for Guantanamo returnees as another area for
international cooperation. Citing GoY eagerness for U.S. assistance,
including the restoration of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
and education programs, he said education is the solution to many of
Yemen's problems and assistance in that arena should flow
irrespective of political differences. The GoY hopes the next three
months create momentum in the relationship to carry into the next
U.S. administration, noted Al-Qirbi, citing an MCC agreement and high
level visits as potential elements of such momentum. End summary.


2. (C) ELECTIONS: Noting the importance of next year's parliamentary
elections, Al-Qirbi called democracy "a headache", but the best
system available to Yemen. The government is in dialogue with Yemeni
opposition parties, has established an election committee and has
made changes in the country's election laws. Al-Qirbi expressed hope
that the government's concessions will entice the opposition to
participate in elections. He noted a trend of internal squabbling
amongst opposition parties and voiced concern that this dissension
could scuttle negotiations between the government and opposition.


3. (S) INTERNAL SECURITY: President Ali Abdullah Saleh has put an
end to the fighting in North Yemen, but the region has not stabilized
completely. Al-Qirbi blamed the emergence of the Al-Houthi rebellion
on Iranian efforts to develop influence "from Bahrain to Yemen". He
described links between the rebels and the Iranian Embassy in Sana'a
and dated the beginning of the rebellion to the return of several
rebels from their studies in Iran.


4. (C) COUNTERTERRORISM: Deputy Secretary Negroponte expressed U.S.
interest in the case of Jamal Al-Badawi, the Yemeni terrorist
convicted in the USS Cole bombing. Al-Qirbi assured Negroponte that
Al-Badawi, who was previously released under house arrest while
cooperating with Yemeni authorities, is in Yemeni custody and will
face a new prosecution. He stressed the need to resolve Al-Badawi's
case through Yemen's legal system and find an appropriate punishment
for his crimes.


5. (C) Al-Qirbi suggested that the recent attack on AmEmbassy Sana'a
underlined the need for a new counterterrorism partnership and
strategy. As evidenced by the sophistication of the Embassy attack,
a new generation of Al Qaeda has emerged and is leading the
organization in a new direction. Yemen's security forces are alert
to the threat of terrorism, but require additional training in
intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism methods. Enhanced
cooperation with the GCC on counterterrorism, similar to the ongoing
efforts between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, would both improve Yemen's
capacity in this area and contribute to Yemen's goal of integration
into the GCC.


6. (C) Al-Qirbi insisted Al Qaeda in Yemen has not grown in strength
or number. Al Qaeda's strategy previously was to use Yemen as a base
of operations while carrying out attacks in Iraq and elsewhere.
However, the GoY's ongoing counterterrorism efforts have placed
increasing pressure on Al Qaeda and created a relationship of
confrontation.


7. (C) HORN OF AFRICA: Al-Qirbi expressed concern about the impact
of continued instability in the Horn of Africa on Yemen's security.
Refugee flows to Yemen have tripled in the last two months, primarily
from Somalia but also from Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Yemeni
government has requested assistance from European Ambassadors in
Sana'a in safeguarding Yemen's coastline from Somali pirates. It
sees piracy as an issue of mutual concern and an area for potential
cooperation between Yemen and the GCC.


8. (C) GUANTANAMO DETAINEES: Al-Qirbi, with a caution that he was
speaking personally, described the GoY proposal for a rehabilitation
center for returned Guantanamo detainees as "inadequate". The
approach to rehabilitation must be long-term and address
psychological as well as physical concerns. Just "jailing them" or
"getting them married" would not be sufficient. The GoY is engaging
with European governments and NGOs to develop a comprehensive
rehabilitation strategy.


9. (C) ASSISTANCE: The GoY is eager for an expansion of U.S.

ABU DHABI 00001192 002 OF 002


assistance, including the restoration of suspended Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC) and education programs. Al-Qirbi argued
that education is the solution to many of Yemen's problems, including
terrorism and religious intolerance. Educational assistance should
not then be predicated on political criteria. The signing of an MCC
agreement would also be an important demonstration of a strong U.S. -
Yemen partnership and a source of much-needed assistance, as
declining oil revenues place pressure on the GoY budget. President
Saleh has also urgently requested the U.S. provide the GoY with
security equipment.


10. (C) THE WAY FORWARD: Al-Qirbi described the relationship as at a
turning point. The GoY hopes to use the next three months to create
momentum in the bilateral relationship that will carry through to the
next U.S. administration. There is a real need for each side to be
serious, honest, and committed, but communication "between some
officials" has been lacking. President Saleh hopes to have ongoing
open and intensive discussions with the USG on Yemen's relations with
the GCC, Iran and the Horn of Africa. Signing an MCC agreement,
restoring education programs, and receiving high level USG visitors
in Sana'a would send a message that the U.S. and Yemen have a robust
partnership that should be maintained.


11. (SBU) U.S. Participants:
-- The Deputy Secretary
-- Ambassador Richard Olson
-- NEA A/S David Welch
-- Aaron Jost, D Staff
-- Susannah Cooper, Note taker
Yemeni Participants:
-- FM Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi
-- Abdul Hakim al-Aryani, Director of the Minister's Office
-- Zayed al-Ureis, Office of the President


12. (U) The Deputy Secretary's party cleared on this cable.

OLSON