ROYG MOVES REHABILITATION CENTER SITE TO ADEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000168 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD WHITE HOUSE PASS DNSA JOHN BRENNAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2019 TAGS: PREL KDRG YM SUBJECT: ROYG MOVES REHABILITATION CENTER SITE TO ADEN Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In what he described as his last "official task" for President Saleh following his December 17 cabinet resignation, former Deputy Prime Minister Rashad al-Alimi told the Ambassador during a January 31 meeting that he will oversee the construction of Yemen's extremist rehabilitation center. He said that the ROYG has identified a former military camp in Aden as the most appropriate site. According to Alimi, the ROYG was experiencing problems procuring the two previous sites identified in Sana'a, and already owns the land in Aden. Most of the buildings will need to be constructed, however, since the site contains only a few old warehouses. Alimi provided blueprints and a detailed pricing scheme for the $11.8 million dollar facility that he said will house 130 people. (Note. Post has scanned and forwarded these documents to the desk officer for review. Alimi also offered to provide aerial photographs; Post will pass these along as well. End note.) ¶2. (C) Alimi told the Ambassador that the ROYG expects the center to be ready for occupancy in three to five months once construction begins, a phase he noted will require external funding. Saudi Arabia invited Yemen to send officials to the its rehabilitation facility for training, al-Alimi said, but did not offer to provide any funding for the Yemeni program. "It is difficult for us to approach the Saudis for money," he continued, "but perhaps the United States might have success." ¶3. (C) COMMENT. The blueprints and financial plan al-Alimi provided for the rehabilitation center demonstrate a level of planning - and perhaps a degree of seriousness - by the ROYG we have not previously seen. What has not changed is the ROYG expectation that either the U.S. or Saudi Arabia will foot the bill for its rehabilitation center. END COMMENT. SECHE