PREPARING FOR FM QIRBI'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002184

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV KVIP ECON YM
SUBJECT: PREPARING FOR FM QIRBI'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON

REF: SECSTATE 122731

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. On December 8, the Ambassador called on
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi at Qirbi's request to
discuss the Ambassador's most recent consultations in
Washington. Qirbi had been appraised of the invitation to
visit Washington in January 2010 for meetings with Secretary
Clinton and other senior officials, and agreed with the
proposed timing. He also agreed that the weeks preceding the
visit would offer a useful opportunity for senior ROYG
officials to meet with Embassy officials in a round-table
forum to establish the framework for dialogue and advance the
Yemen-U.S. relationship. Qirbi and the Ambassador discussed
the USG's new strategy in Afghanistan, with the Foreign
Minister noting that it is the responsibility of the
international community to ensure that al-Qa'ida elements in
the AF/PAK region do not relocate to Yemen. END SUMMARY.

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Enhancing Economic Development
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2. (C) Qirbi agreed that the ongoing conflict in Sa'ada
between Yemeni military forces and Huthi rebels prevented the
international community from pursuing on a large scale its
desire to advance development in Yemen. Pleased to hear that
the U.S. Government supports a "Friends of Yemen" group )
which he described as similar to the Pakistan model ) the
Foreign Minister noted that this proposal was initially
presented by the UAE. Going further, Qirbi added that such a
vehicle would present a different approach to addressing
Yemen's economic problems. Both the Foreign Minister and the
Ambassador agreed that while some progress towards economic
development was being made, greater and quicker progress was
needed. Towards this end, Qirbi agreed that a 'round-table'
discussion between ROYG officials and the Embassy in
preparation for Qirbi's trip to Washington will establish a
framework for strategic dialogue between ROYG and USG beyond
security and counterterrorism cooperation.

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Ensuring Yemen Does not Become the Next FATA
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3. (C) Noting the U.S. Government's concern that pressure on
al-Qa'ida in Pakistan and Afghanistan may encourage these
elements to relocate to Yemen, Qirbi noted that they could
not "simply land" in Yemen without first having to traverse
various regions and borders. Accordingly, Qirbi asserted
that it is the responsibility of all parties -- particularly
Pakistan, Afghanistan, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia -- to
ensure that al-Qa'ida elements in the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border area do not relocate to Yemen. In his assessment,
there has been significant talk on enhancing security and
intelligence cooperation among the relevant parties, but
little action. Qirbi acknowledged significant cooperation
and support by the USG for border security, to include
cooperation with the Yemeni Coast Guard to ensure maritime
border security.

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Comment
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4. (C) The Foreign Minister's agreement to travel to
Washington to meet with senior USG officials, to include
Secretary Clinton, affords an opportunity to reinforce our
bilateral relationship with ROYG in areas outside of security
and counterterrorism. While the ROYG's continuing focus on
the Huthi conflict will continue to be a distraction,
political engagement at senior levels of our government can
provide opportunities to re-focus the ROYG's attention on the
need to attend to other priorities. The "dialogue" Qirbi
endorses between ROYG and Embassy officials can serve as a
useful beginning to this process. END COMMENT.
SECHE