MOD DEMONSTRATES NEW FOUND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002487 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MASS YM COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: MOD DEMONSTRATES NEW FOUND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT IN ADVANCE OF SALEH VISIT REF: SANAA 2465 Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 28, Office of Military Cooperation (OMC) Chief met with Minister of Defense MG Abdallah Ali Aleiwa, Director of Military Intelligence BG Ali Ahmed Al-Sayyani, and Commander of the Yemen Special Operations Forces (YSOF) Colonel Ahmed Saleh. At the behest of President Saleh, Aleiwa discussed MOD's new Counter Terrorism and Border Security Plan. End Summary. -------------- SALEH TO MOD: TIME FOR CLOSER COOPERATION -------------- ¶2. (C) As promised during the recent visit of MGen Ghormley (reftel),Aleiwa shared an armed forces strategic development plan with OMC Chief, laying out Yemeni military training and equipment requirements over the next five years. Aleiwa expressed his willingness to work closely with OMC, stressing that Saleh himself directed MOD to develop a plan that USG found "realistic and executable." OMC Chief looked forward to providing assistance to strengthening CT-efforts, but emphasized that USG participation in refining the plan did not equate to a financial commitment. Aleiwa agreed to a working level meeting with OMC officials to discuss the plan further, at which time an Arabic and English copy will be presented. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) A willingness to actively engage with OMC, especially on a working level, is a significant improvement in OMC-MOD cooperation. The fact that this new found spirit of cooperation stems from a presidential order is a promising sign that Saleh understands CT cooperation must improve before his Washington visit. ¶4. (C) Although MOD still displays a lack of understanding of the FMF process and likely views the CT plan as an invoice for USG support, their willingness to discuss long-term planning requirements is encouraging. A comprehensive evaluation of equipment and training needs would be a distinct departure from the case by case demands currently being made, and will allow OMC to more efficiently focus limited FMF resources to support CT and border security efforts. ¶5. (C) Post will provid a more detailed anaylsis of the CT and Border Security Plan after receiving the English copy. Krajeski