DEMOCRACY STRATEGY AND GOALS: YEMEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 063902

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018
TAGS: EAID PHUM SCUL PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY STRATEGY AND GOALS: YEMEN

REF: A. 07 STATE 130991

B. 07 SANAA 1891

C. 06 SANAA 2854

Classified By: NEA DAS Kent Patton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) The Department approves Embassy Sana,a,s proposed
democracy strategy for the next twelve to eighteen months as
discussed March 26 via video conference. Because Embassy
Sana,a is on ordered departure, the original time line for
implementing these strategies may have to be altered due to
limited staffing. This cable summarizes the new strategy,
which is an update to Embassy Sana,a,s previous democracy
strategy (Ref B).

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UPDATED DEMOCRACY STRATEGY
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2. (C) Embassy Sana,a prioritized three reform areas for
the next twelve to eighteen months: freedom of expression,
the rule of law, and electoral transparency and competition.
Post intends to focus on programming in these areas,
particularly in advance of parliamentary elections in 2009.


3. (C) Objective 1: Reverse recent backsliding on freedom
of expression. Implementation Strategy:

-- Speak out publicly in support of journalists and media
outlets who report objectively and accurately, and encourage
opposition parties, NGOs and like-minded governments to do
the same.

-- Express our concern directly to the Republic of Yemen
Government (ROYG) when it interferes with independent media
organizations, marginalizes independent voices, or
intimidates journalists.

-- Engage with Supreme Commission for Elections and Referenda
(SCER) commissioners and staff to develop enhanced oversight
of the official media to discourage inequalities in coverage
of candidates for office in 2009 Parliamentary elections.


4. (C) Objective 2: Raise the profile of rule of law
issues, including the promotion of an independent judiciary
and establishment of transparent electoral law and
procedures. Implementation Strategy:

-- Engage the international community to speak out publicly
and demarche key members of the Yemeni parliament to promote
and elevate rule of law issues, such as the election, press,
refugee, and counterterrorism laws, within the ROYG.

-- Support Yemen,s WTO accession process by encouraging the
drafting of WTO-compliant laws and regulations and the
provision of trade-related technical assistance in
cooperation with appropriate ROYG officials.

-- Leverage the Secretary,s stated interest in visiting
Yemen to serve as a catalyst to convince Saleh to approve
reforms in advance of the Parliamentary elections.

-- Engage with ROYG to promote key democratic, economic, and
investment reforms as vehicles to make Yemen more attractive
to foreign investors.


5. (C) Objective 3: Increase capacity of Supreme Commission
for Elections and Referenda (SCER) to implement its
responsibilities efficiently and transparently.
Implementation Strategy:

-- While pressing for the appointment of Commissioners for
the SCER, continue publicly to support the goal of SCER and
support the Commission,s technical staff as they prepare for
next year,s vote.

-- Support continuing NDI and IFES efforts to assist SCER in
the following four areas:

a. Strengthen the efficacy of domestic monitoring efforts to
promote the integrity of the electoral process.

b. Encourage the SCER as it establishes an action plan to set
electoral district boundaries to ensure parliamentary
constituencies are in compliance with the legal requirement
that they be demographically balanced and equal.

c. Assist SCER to address the problem of voter registration
in a manner that is timely and transparent, to include the
implementation of an effective voter registry.

d. Encourage the establishment of improved
campaign-expenditure limits by amending existing campaign
finance law in order to ensure transparency and bridge gaps
in resources between political parties.

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POINT OF CONTACT
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6. (SBU) Please contact NEA/PI Charles KIAMIe at (202)
776-8841 or KIAMIeCE@state.sgov.gov for any necessary further
background information.
RICE