SANAA EAC REQUESTS THE LIFTING OF AUTHORIZED

S E C R E T SANAA 001800 NOFORN DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, SES-O, DS COMMAND CENTER, M/FLO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018 TAGS: AEMR ASEC YM SUBJECT: SANAA EAC REQUESTS THE LIFTING OF AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE REF: SANAA 1711 Classified By: AMB Stephen Seche, reasons 1.4 (d and g) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: On November 2, 2008, the EAC met to discuss the lifting of Authorized Departure status. After discusion, the EAC decided to recommend the lifting of authorized departure and return to the prior limited-accompanied status at post of working adult dependents only. The EAC was attended by RSO, DCM, POLM, AID, PD, LEGAT, POLE, DAO, MO, CONS and chaired by the Ambassador. End summary. ¶2. (S/NF) The Ambassador explained to the EAC that the purpose of authorized departure was for individuals who were having difficulty or felt uncomfortable in the aftermath of the September 17 attack to leave Post on a volunteer basis. In this context, there are no reverse-tripwires, and it was for the EAC to decide if a request to lift authorized departure was a prudent measure. ¶3. (S/NF) RSO briefed the EAC on additional physical security placed in Embassy residential areas and described the on-going physical security upgrades on the Embassy compound. At Embassy residential areas, RSO has de-leased residences that were more difficult to protect and moved these individuals to designated Embassy cluster neighborhoods. In addition, serpentine barricades have been established in the cluster areas as well as the LGF and host nation residential guards being relocated from de-leased houses to these designated areas to create a more robust security presence. Additional host-nation security, in the form of heavy machine gun vehicles, has also been added to the designated areas. Inside each residence, secure safe-havens are being created along with reinforcing perimeter gates and doors. At the Embassy compound, a new vehicle screening area is currently under construction which will consist of automatic barriers that will provide the parking area with greater security. Given that the majority of these security measures are now--or soon will be--in place, the RSO advised that he was comfortable with the EAC requesting the lifting of authorized departure; this action would result in the return of five personnel currently in the U.S. ¶4. (S/NF) The EAC discussion reflected the understanding that there are risks to official Americans operating in Yemen, but that these risks are consistent with other embassies in the region that operate under similar conditions and similar threat levels. In addition, the security environment in Yemen remains unpredictable, as it did prior to the attack, and this trend will continue into the future. Nevertheless, the EAC concluded that all security precautions available have been put into place or will be in place in the near future to mitigate or minimize potential problem areas. The EAC therefore decided to request authorized departure be lifted and a return to Post's prior limited-accompanied status of working adult dependents be granted. ¶6. The POC for this issue is RSO Nicholas Collura. SECHE