Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANAA2286
2009-12-31 10:17:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
ROYG RESPONDS TO ILLICIT SERBIAN WEAPONS DEAL ALLEGATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHYN #2286 3651017 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 311017Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3469 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0002 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0275 RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 0008 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 0132 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0016 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0153
S E C R E T SANAA 002286
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD AND
ISN/CATR CGAYMAN AND MMITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2019
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, MOPS, PARM, PINR, PREL, PTR, MASS, PGOV,
YI, BU, CY, UK, LI, UNSC, YM
SUBJECT: ROYG RESPONDS TO ILLICIT SERBIAN WEAPONS DEAL
ALLEGATION
REF: A. STATE 130330
B. SANAA 2208
Classified By: CDA Angie Bryan for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
S E C R E T SANAA 002286
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD AND
ISN/CATR CGAYMAN AND MMITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2019
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, MOPS, PARM, PINR, PREL, PTR, MASS, PGOV,
YI, BU, CY, UK, LI, UNSC, YM
SUBJECT: ROYG RESPONDS TO ILLICIT SERBIAN WEAPONS DEAL
ALLEGATION
REF: A. STATE 130330
B. SANAA 2208
Classified By: CDA Angie Bryan for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) On December 23, before receipt of REF A, Foreign
Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi mentioned an arms deal "with
Serbia" during a conversation with the CDA about buying
weapons from the Czech Republic (septel). (Comment: The MFA
is rarely looped in to the more sensitive aspects of Yemen's
foreign policy and defense affairs and effective information
sharing between the MFA and the MOD is rare. End Comment).
The CDA delivered REF A points to Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohi al-Dhabbi on December 26. Foreign Minister Qirbi
appeared to confirm the deal in a pull-aside with the CDA on
December 30, stating that he had heard that a Serbian man
might be in town meeting with the MOD.
2. (S/NF) Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Jalal Yaqoub, a
close economic advisor to presidential son Ahmed Ali Saleh,
told EconOff that Ahmed Ali had asked top ROYG officials in
early October "whether it was illegal to trade with Serbia."
On December 27, Yaqoub told EconOff that Ahmed Ali had told
the Minister of Finance that the arms deal with Tesic was "on
hold." Citing sources in the MOD Procurement Department, the
Bulgarian Embassy Commercial Attache, the original source of
information on the alleged illicit arms deal (REF B),told
EconOff on December 28 that the MOD had recently sent the
contract with Tesic to the Central Bank of Yemen to process
the USD 97 million payment to Tesic's Moon Storm Enterprises.
BRYAN
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD AND
ISN/CATR CGAYMAN AND MMITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2019
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, MOPS, PARM, PINR, PREL, PTR, MASS, PGOV,
YI, BU, CY, UK, LI, UNSC, YM
SUBJECT: ROYG RESPONDS TO ILLICIT SERBIAN WEAPONS DEAL
ALLEGATION
REF: A. STATE 130330
B. SANAA 2208
Classified By: CDA Angie Bryan for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) On December 23, before receipt of REF A, Foreign
Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi mentioned an arms deal "with
Serbia" during a conversation with the CDA about buying
weapons from the Czech Republic (septel). (Comment: The MFA
is rarely looped in to the more sensitive aspects of Yemen's
foreign policy and defense affairs and effective information
sharing between the MFA and the MOD is rare. End Comment).
The CDA delivered REF A points to Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohi al-Dhabbi on December 26. Foreign Minister Qirbi
appeared to confirm the deal in a pull-aside with the CDA on
December 30, stating that he had heard that a Serbian man
might be in town meeting with the MOD.
2. (S/NF) Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Jalal Yaqoub, a
close economic advisor to presidential son Ahmed Ali Saleh,
told EconOff that Ahmed Ali had asked top ROYG officials in
early October "whether it was illegal to trade with Serbia."
On December 27, Yaqoub told EconOff that Ahmed Ali had told
the Minister of Finance that the arms deal with Tesic was "on
hold." Citing sources in the MOD Procurement Department, the
Bulgarian Embassy Commercial Attache, the original source of
information on the alleged illicit arms deal (REF B),told
EconOff on December 28 that the MOD had recently sent the
contract with Tesic to the Central Bank of Yemen to process
the USD 97 million payment to Tesic's Moon Storm Enterprises.
BRYAN