By Matthew Russell Lee
WASHINGTON DC, March 26 -- Amid airstrikes in Yemen, Inner City Press on March 26 asked State Department if the US thinks former President Saleh could play any role going forward, and for its position on Sudan participating in the "Saudi coalition" the US supports.
Jeff Rathke, Director of the State Department's Office of Press Relations, relied about the US Treasury Department sanctions imposed on Saleh on November 10, 2014, and reiterated previous US criticism.
QUESTION:
Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press. I wanted to know what the U.S.
thinks of the role of former President Saleh, and do you think that he
has any role to play in the negotiations that are trying to be had? And
also, you said repeatedly that the U.S. supports Saudi Arabia and its
coalition partners, and it’s said that Sudan is one of the partners and
that they’ve offered three air force planes. And I wanted to know,
would the U.S. support Sudanese participation in bombing Yemen?
MR. RATHKE: So I’ll take the second one first. We are aware that the Government of Sudan has announced that it is taking part in the actions organized by the Saudis. We’re not in a position to confirm the details of or the nature of their participation. Again, this is a Saudi-organized and Saudi-led coalition, so I don’t have more to say on that aspect.
You asked about former President Saleh. And so we have long made clear our concerns about the obstructive role that former President Saleh plays in Yemen. He has consistently sought to undermine Yemen’s political transition. This is widely recognized by the international community, which, in fact, sanctioned former President Saleh under UN Security Council Resolution 2140 just a few months ago. That was in November 2014. And the reason was for his obstruction of the political transition and undermining the government.
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned former President Saleh on November 10th, 2014 for engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen. So our position on him and his role, I think, is quite clear.
MR. RATHKE: So I’ll take the second one first. We are aware that the Government of Sudan has announced that it is taking part in the actions organized by the Saudis. We’re not in a position to confirm the details of or the nature of their participation. Again, this is a Saudi-organized and Saudi-led coalition, so I don’t have more to say on that aspect.
You asked about former President Saleh. And so we have long made clear our concerns about the obstructive role that former President Saleh plays in Yemen. He has consistently sought to undermine Yemen’s political transition. This is widely recognized by the international community, which, in fact, sanctioned former President Saleh under UN Security Council Resolution 2140 just a few months ago. That was in November 2014. And the reason was for his obstruction of the political transition and undermining the government.
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned former President Saleh on November 10th, 2014 for engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen. So our position on him and his role, I think, is quite clear.
On Inner City Press' question on Sudan, note this is the same Sudanese air force bombing civilians in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
Inner City Press also asked Rathke about the US restricting Cuban diplomats to within 25 miles of Columbus Circle in New York -- Rathke said this is being negotiated, along with the US' desire for free movement in Cuba -- and if the US will be replacing Russ Feingold as Special Envoy on the Great Lakes.
I have no personnel announcements, Rathke said, twice.
Earlier in the day reporters complained about the lack of answers from the International Monetary Fund. Rathke at least kept fielding questions, and had a surprising number of if-asked statements in his binder.
Inner City Press at the International Monetary Fund briefing on March 26 asked again about the status of the IMF program in Yemen. From the IMF transcript:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about Yemen. I asked online actually a couple of times ago, and you had said it wasn’t helpful but there would be a review in the spring. Now, with these air strikes by Saudi Arabia and Houthi’s moving on Aden, what is the status of the IMF’s program, and what is the thinking, how are you going to review it?
MR. MURRAY: Thanks for that question. Well, obviously, we are watching the rapidly evolving situation in Yemen carefully and closely at the moment. Given a host of uncertainties surrounding Yemen at this moment, the first review under the Fund supported program is postponed until the situation clarifies.
When it will clarify? Can’t say. Certainly, the review mission is postponed. One of our biggest concerns about Yemen is the impact on the poorest there, and the economic reverberations of events. Way too soon to say what those will be, but we are just going to have to keep an eye on the situation.
Inner City Press: Has the IMF had any kind contact with the Houthi’s since they have been in contact --
MR. MURRAY: I’m not aware of any recent contact with the Houthi’s, certainly not in recent days. I really don’t have any recent guidance on that.
Back on January 22, Murray had answered Inner City Press that while events in Yemen were not helpful, the review was not until Spring. Now it is postponed indefinitely.
