Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUDHABI77
2010-02-14 08:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE on Situation in Yemen and "Friends of Yemen" Next Steps
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAD #0077 0450833 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 140833Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0285 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 0022
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000077
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/14
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER YM AE
SUBJECT: UAE on Situation in Yemen and "Friends of Yemen" Next Steps
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Olson, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000077
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/14
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER YM AE
SUBJECT: UAE on Situation in Yemen and "Friends of Yemen" Next Steps
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Olson, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On February 14, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs
Tariq Al Haidan summoned the Ambassador and British ChargC)
d'Affaires Ian Wood to the MFA seeking guidance from the US and UK
on Friends of Yemen (FOY) goals and the UAEG's role. Haidan
welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between the ROYG and the
Houthi rebels and said it was now time to focus on governance
issues. Haidan confirmed the UAEG's willingness to chair the FOY
working group on economics and governance, with Germany as
vice-chair, and requested detailed instructions regarding desired
outcomes. He suggested a working group meeting in March in
preparation for an early April FOY Ministerial, which the UAE will
consider hosting.
2. (C) Haidan was joined by MFA's Director of Arab Affairs
Ambassador Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, who accompanied Foreign
Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ) to the Yemen conference
in London January 27. Haidan and Suwaidi said AbZ wanted more
information on FOY progress. Haidan expressed a willingness to use
the economics and governance working group to achieve any outcome
desired by the US and UK, and asked "How do you want it?" British
ChargC) told Haidan Foreign Secretary David Miliband would
distribute a proposal for the FOY soon and suggested the UAEG
compare notes with Germany on potential areas of concern.
3. (C) Haidan acknowledged continued security threats from Al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula and the southern separatist movement. He
suggested the ROYG and FOY could take advantage of the cease-fire
in the north and turn towards matters of governance. He advised
that the state of the Yemeni economy is a primary concern for GCC
neighbors and criticized the ROYG for general incompetence. Haidan
said the security situation in Yemen "is getting better, now we
need the government to get better."
4. (C) While UK is on the hook to provide additional guidance, the
UAE would clearly welcome ideas from Washington on how it should
structure the FOY working group and on what outcomes we seek.
OLSON
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/14
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER YM AE
SUBJECT: UAE on Situation in Yemen and "Friends of Yemen" Next Steps
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Olson, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On February 14, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs
Tariq Al Haidan summoned the Ambassador and British ChargC)
d'Affaires Ian Wood to the MFA seeking guidance from the US and UK
on Friends of Yemen (FOY) goals and the UAEG's role. Haidan
welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between the ROYG and the
Houthi rebels and said it was now time to focus on governance
issues. Haidan confirmed the UAEG's willingness to chair the FOY
working group on economics and governance, with Germany as
vice-chair, and requested detailed instructions regarding desired
outcomes. He suggested a working group meeting in March in
preparation for an early April FOY Ministerial, which the UAE will
consider hosting.
2. (C) Haidan was joined by MFA's Director of Arab Affairs
Ambassador Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, who accompanied Foreign
Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ) to the Yemen conference
in London January 27. Haidan and Suwaidi said AbZ wanted more
information on FOY progress. Haidan expressed a willingness to use
the economics and governance working group to achieve any outcome
desired by the US and UK, and asked "How do you want it?" British
ChargC) told Haidan Foreign Secretary David Miliband would
distribute a proposal for the FOY soon and suggested the UAEG
compare notes with Germany on potential areas of concern.
3. (C) Haidan acknowledged continued security threats from Al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula and the southern separatist movement. He
suggested the ROYG and FOY could take advantage of the cease-fire
in the north and turn towards matters of governance. He advised
that the state of the Yemeni economy is a primary concern for GCC
neighbors and criticized the ROYG for general incompetence. Haidan
said the security situation in Yemen "is getting better, now we
need the government to get better."
4. (C) While UK is on the hook to provide additional guidance, the
UAE would clearly welcome ideas from Washington on how it should
structure the FOY working group and on what outcomes we seek.
OLSON