AMBASSADOR VISITS PORT CITY OF ADEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 002986

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KMPI KPAO YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM ECON COM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS PORT CITY OF ADEN

REF: SANAA 2961


1. Summary: On October 2, Ambassador visited Aden to meet
with local government, business and civil society
representatives. Local council members, the Chamber of
Commerce, and NGOs shared their experiences in strengthening
democracy, improving the business climate, and creating local
solutions to challenges facing the vibrant port city. The
Ambassador also met with the local UNHCR director to become
better acquainted with how the organization is dealing with
an ever-increasing number of refugees from the Horn of
Africa. End Summary.

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Aden Councils: Developing Local Government
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2. Ambassador met with Deputy Governor Abdul Karim Shaef,
who also serves as the Secretary General for Local Councils,
to discuss the importance of local government in supporting
democratic development. The Ambassador said the USG supports
local councils and their efforts to improve security and
encourage economic growth. He stressed that the onus is on
local government to create a favorable climate to attract
investment.


3. Shaef said the 2001 local council elections were
successful, although there were many difficulties starting
this system from scratch and securing the necessary funding.
"Now the relationship with the central government is strong,"
he continued, and local councils manage their own budgets and
oversee infrastructure projects. Shaef also described a
project with the World Bank to develop the seaport and
airport in order to create jobs and develop tourism. He
expressed concern that a lack of economic opportunities will
lead to civil unrest and recruitment by extremist elements.


4. Following the meeting with Shaef, the Ambassador met with
twenty local council members representing all major political
parties to gather perspectives on elections,
decentralization, public finance, and the economic future of
the port. Council members demonstrated great pride in their
close relationship with constituents and the responsibilities
that entails. Members felt their effectiveness was impeded,
however, by a lack of fiscal autonomy and their reliance on
allocations from the Ministry of Finance to fund operations
and projects. Council members asked for help making
connections with American local government leaders, so they
could learn from America's democratic experience. Ambassador
said the exchange of information and expertise with their
American counterparts would be very valuable. He stressed
that democracy cannot succeed without strong local
governments to secure political freedoms and encourage
economic development.

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Chamber of Commerce: Bring American Companies Back!
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5. Ambassador visited the Aden Chamber of Commerce to meet
with local business leaders and stress the importance of a
thriving private sector in creating a secure and prosperous
Aden. He called on business leaders to work with local
councils to help create conditions friendly for business.
Business leaders were enthusiastic about forming
relationships with American companies and chambers of
commerce, noting that an American trade delegation had not
visited Aden since 1973. The Ambassador encouraged the
Chamber of Commerce to work with post to develop
relationships with American companies and educate them on
potential investment opportunities.

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UNHCR: Providing for Somali Refugees
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6. Local UNHCR representative Theophilus Vodounou described
the current refugee situation and the organization's efforts
to assist the thousands of new refugees who arrive each year.
Vodounou said most refugees arriving in Yemen are young
males fleeing poor economic conditions in Somalia and
Ethiopia. They typically pay armed Somali smugglers $10 -
$20 dollars to ferry them in unsafe boats from Bossaso,
Somalia to the Bir-Ali coast, located 510 km from Aden. UNHCR
provides food and medical attention at the nearby Mayfa
Reception Center, and then transports them to Kharaz refugee
camp outside of Aden. The refugee camp's population is 7,525
and growing, but Vodounou said most chose to leave the camp
and seek employment elsewhere in Yemen or other countries on
the Arabian Peninsula. UNHCR currently has 74,864 registered
refugees, the vast majority of which are from Somalia.
Vodounou estimated that twice the registered number have
entered Yemen illegally within the last ten years.


7. Vodounou also described efforts to improve living
conditions in the Aden suburb of Basateen, which is home to
14,000 refugees. Living conditions are poor, as the
population has expanded well beyond what the current
infrastructure can handle. According to Vodounou, the
central government views the area as a haven for criminals
and would like to move the residents to the Kharaz camp.
Local authorities, however, are cooperating with UNHCR to
improve basic services, like sanitation, and provide economic
opportunities to residents. Vodounou thanked the USG for
providing a new water tank to Basateen residents.

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Women's Groups
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8. Ambassador and Mrs. Krajeski also met with several NGOs
providing valuable services to the women and children of
Aden. At the Women's Shelter House, Executive Director Afra
Hariri described the shelter's efforts to provide a safe
haven for battered women. The shelter provides legal
support, housing, medical care, and job training to victims
of violence. Hariri said that without support from the
shelter, the only organization of its kind in Yemen, these
women are vulnerable to being trafficked into prostitution.
Hariri can currently only house six women, but hopes to
expand the facilities in Aden, as well as creating similar
shelters in Taiz, Hodeida, and Mukalla.


9. Mrs. Krajeski met with Fatima Muraisi, local council
member and Chairperson of the Yemeni Woman's Union (YWU) Aden
Branch. YWU, a nominally independent NGO that maintains a
strong relationship with the government, focuses on providing
legal support to female prisoners, conducting health
awareness campaigns, and improving female literacy.


10. The Ambassador's wife also toured two facilities that
received USG assistance, including a secondary school for
girls and a school for blind children. At the girls' school,
she observed students using the e-Learning Center created
with funds from the Middle East Partnership Initiative
(MEPI). The successful center provides a vibrant learning
environment and encourages young girls to seek additional
educational opportunities. The elementary school for blind
children, which educates 20 students and prepares them for
reintegration into normal classrooms, expressed appreciation
for USG support for much needed renovations.

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Public Diplomacy Success
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11. All news outlets reported on Ambassador Krajeski's visit
to Aden. Many summary articles carried photos and positive
reports about his meetings. Aden-based independently daily
Al Ayyam carried an in-depth interview on October 6 (reftel).

Krajeski