Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA3
2008-01-02 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
how-toVZCZCXYZ0021 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHYN #0003/01 0021353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 021353Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8690 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1006 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0083 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0040 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0104
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000003
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YM
SUBJECT: THE FORUM'S FUTURE STILL IN DOUBT
REF: SANAA 2361
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000003
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YM
SUBJECT: THE FORUM'S FUTURE STILL IN DOUBT
REF: SANAA 2361
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador and the German CDA met with Foreign
Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi on January 2 to discuss the Forum
for the Future. The Ambassador noted the USG's continued
commitment to the Forum, but, in the absence of a
representative of the Japanese Embassy, no progress was made
on forming a joint position on how to proceed. The Foreign
Minister made it clear that the ROYG would prefer to host the
Forum, but said that there is insufficient time to prepare
for the event before the spring. The participants agreed to
meet again on January 9, hopefully with their Japanese
counterpart as well. The Minister made it clear that if a
Sana'a Forum fails to take place, the ROYG does not want to
be blamed. End Summary.
State of Play
--------------
2. (C) On January 2, the Ambassador met with Foreign Minister
AbuBakr al-Qirbi and the German CDA in an effort to finalize
a plan that would either allow the Forum for the Future to
take place or reach consensus on cancellation. No
representative of the Japanese Embassy attended the meeting,
although it is unclear why. The Ambassador told the FM that
the US would like to see the Forum go forward and reiterated
that the Secretary had set aside February 5 to attend it,
presuming all political obstacles to her participation are
removed. The German CDA said that his government would
support the holding of the Forum provided the German
government played no hosting role whatsoever. Al-Qirbi said
that his conversations with the Japanese led him to believe
that they had no intention of dealing with the "unfinished
business" of the 2007 Forum and see the 2008 Forum with the
UAE as their only responsibility.
3. (C) Al-Qirbi then said that the ball is in the G8's court
but noted that it is a ball that "everyone wants to throw to
someone else." He went on to say that he had hoped that the
meeting would lead to a firm joint position and suggested
that it may be time for Yemen and Germany to share the
responsibility and make the choice, an invitation the German
chose to ignore. He also said that, with only a month left
for preparations, the February 5 date was not workable. He
then suggested three possible ways forward: first, the Forum
could be held in the spring with some form of G8 hosting;
second, the G8 could designate a country other than Germany
or Japan as co-host (he suggested Russia based on what he
acknowledged was second-hand information that Russia was
prepared to do so); and third, Japan and Yemen could co-host
the 2008 Forum.
4. (C) Al-Qirbi said that the ROYG would be willing to host
the Forum at the sub-ministerial level, noting that the level
of representation reflects on the sending nation rather than
the hosting nation. The Ambassador said that he believed the
USG would be willing to push for an enhanced role for Yemen
in an Emirati/Japanese 2008 Forum to showcase Yemen's
commitment to the Forum and its principles. The Minister did
not respond to this offer.
Placing Blame
--------------
5. (C) The Foreign Minister then began to discuss ways to
announce the cancellation of the Forum, if necessary. The
Ambassador emphasized the importance of such an announcement
not placing blame on any particular country. Al-Qirbi said
that he was not certain that he could agree to that, noting
that blame would fall on the weakest country (i.e. Yemen) if
it were not clearly defined. He then suggested that the
cancellation be announced at a joint press conference. The
Ambassador discouraged this approach and recommended a joint
statement instead.
Next Steps
--------------
6. (C) Foreign Minister al-Qirbi noted that he was traveling
to Cairo on Saturday and suggested that all four parties meet
on January 9 for further discussions.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) While unwilling to be the one to make the decision,
the Foreign Minister seems prepared, as he did earlier this
week (reftel) for the cancellation of the Forum, if no clear
way forward is found. The ROYG does not, however, appear to
be willing to be the sole bearer of the responsibility for
its cancellation, something it continues to suggest it will
lay at the feet of the G8. End Comment.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YM
SUBJECT: THE FORUM'S FUTURE STILL IN DOUBT
REF: SANAA 2361
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador and the German CDA met with Foreign
Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi on January 2 to discuss the Forum
for the Future. The Ambassador noted the USG's continued
commitment to the Forum, but, in the absence of a
representative of the Japanese Embassy, no progress was made
on forming a joint position on how to proceed. The Foreign
Minister made it clear that the ROYG would prefer to host the
Forum, but said that there is insufficient time to prepare
for the event before the spring. The participants agreed to
meet again on January 9, hopefully with their Japanese
counterpart as well. The Minister made it clear that if a
Sana'a Forum fails to take place, the ROYG does not want to
be blamed. End Summary.
State of Play
--------------
2. (C) On January 2, the Ambassador met with Foreign Minister
AbuBakr al-Qirbi and the German CDA in an effort to finalize
a plan that would either allow the Forum for the Future to
take place or reach consensus on cancellation. No
representative of the Japanese Embassy attended the meeting,
although it is unclear why. The Ambassador told the FM that
the US would like to see the Forum go forward and reiterated
that the Secretary had set aside February 5 to attend it,
presuming all political obstacles to her participation are
removed. The German CDA said that his government would
support the holding of the Forum provided the German
government played no hosting role whatsoever. Al-Qirbi said
that his conversations with the Japanese led him to believe
that they had no intention of dealing with the "unfinished
business" of the 2007 Forum and see the 2008 Forum with the
UAE as their only responsibility.
3. (C) Al-Qirbi then said that the ball is in the G8's court
but noted that it is a ball that "everyone wants to throw to
someone else." He went on to say that he had hoped that the
meeting would lead to a firm joint position and suggested
that it may be time for Yemen and Germany to share the
responsibility and make the choice, an invitation the German
chose to ignore. He also said that, with only a month left
for preparations, the February 5 date was not workable. He
then suggested three possible ways forward: first, the Forum
could be held in the spring with some form of G8 hosting;
second, the G8 could designate a country other than Germany
or Japan as co-host (he suggested Russia based on what he
acknowledged was second-hand information that Russia was
prepared to do so); and third, Japan and Yemen could co-host
the 2008 Forum.
4. (C) Al-Qirbi said that the ROYG would be willing to host
the Forum at the sub-ministerial level, noting that the level
of representation reflects on the sending nation rather than
the hosting nation. The Ambassador said that he believed the
USG would be willing to push for an enhanced role for Yemen
in an Emirati/Japanese 2008 Forum to showcase Yemen's
commitment to the Forum and its principles. The Minister did
not respond to this offer.
Placing Blame
--------------
5. (C) The Foreign Minister then began to discuss ways to
announce the cancellation of the Forum, if necessary. The
Ambassador emphasized the importance of such an announcement
not placing blame on any particular country. Al-Qirbi said
that he was not certain that he could agree to that, noting
that blame would fall on the weakest country (i.e. Yemen) if
it were not clearly defined. He then suggested that the
cancellation be announced at a joint press conference. The
Ambassador discouraged this approach and recommended a joint
statement instead.
Next Steps
--------------
6. (C) Foreign Minister al-Qirbi noted that he was traveling
to Cairo on Saturday and suggested that all four parties meet
on January 9 for further discussions.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) While unwilling to be the one to make the decision,
the Foreign Minister seems prepared, as he did earlier this
week (reftel) for the cancellation of the Forum, if no clear
way forward is found. The ROYG does not, however, appear to
be willing to be the sole bearer of the responsibility for
its cancellation, something it continues to suggest it will
lay at the feet of the G8. End Comment.
SECHE