NETHERLANDS/YEMEN: VIEWS FOR LONDON MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000049 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID YM NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/YEMEN: VIEWS FOR LONDON MEETING REF: SECSTATE 6940 Classified By: DCM Edwin Nolan for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch welcome the January 27 London conference on Yemen, and FM Verhagen and Development Minister Koenders will encourage President Saleh to keep his promise of promoting dialogue in Yemen. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Poloff discussed reftel points with Herman Quarles, Deputy Director for Middle East Affairs at the Dutch MFA, who strongly welcome the London conference, particularly the broad focus on the root causes of terrorism and instability. Quarles observed that Yemen and the Gulf Cooperation Council have not supported productive discussions in the past, identifying the situation as a regional or purely internal problem. However, President Saleh is "getting weaker and weaker." Without internal reforms, Al Qaeda will find greater support with the local population. ¶3. (C) With their interventions in London, Ministers Koenders and Verhagen will encourage President Salah to follow up on his promise of dialogue. The Dutch had just received, but not reviewed, the UK’s draft chairman’s statment. Reacting to reftel points, Quarles said the Dutch shared Germany’s view that we should not "cheer" Saleh but rather encourage him to support reform. It would be counterproductive to give Yemen "a blank check." The Dutch do not see the London meeting as a pledging conference. (NOTE: The Dutch government provides Yemen with approximately 25 million euros in annual development aide, targeting water resources, health, and education. END NOTE.) LEVIN