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June 2, 2006 |
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THE YEMENI PRESIDENT LAUDS THE SAUDI ROLE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SAUDI-YEMENI COORDINATION COUNCIL DESCRIBING IT AS ONE OF THE BEST ARAB COORDINATION COUNCILS. CROWN PRINCE SULTAN: THE MEETING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE MARCH OF PARTNERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT LED BY THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH IBN ABDUL AZIZ AND PRESIDENT SALIH. THE YEMENI PRIME MINISTER: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KINGDOM IS CRUCIAL. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih received Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General. President Salih welcomed Crown Prince Sultan, wishing him good stay in Yemen. He affirmed the deep-rooted brotherly relations between the two countries and peoples. President Salih also highlighted the meetings of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council and the outcome of these meetings, which will bolster cooperation between the two countries in all fields. On his part, Crown Prince Sultan expressed pleasure for the visit, affirming the keenness of the Saudi government to develop cooperation avenues between the two countries. The reception was attended by Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal and members of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, met with Yemen's Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal. During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments at the Arab and international arenas, particularly the situation in the Palestinian territories and Iraq and discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General left Riyadh for Yemen on an official several-day visit to lead the Saudi side to the seventh session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council. He was seen off at Riyadh Airbase by Prince Fahd Ibn Mohammad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region, Prince Muqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence, Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs, Prince Turki Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Culture and Information, in addition to a number of princes and senior military officers. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, arrived in Yemen on an official several-day visit to lead the Saudi side to the seventh session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council. He was received at Al-Rayyan Airport in Mukalla, Yemen, by Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rashid Muhammad Al-Alami, Minister of Foreign & Expatriates Affairs Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, Minister of Planning & International Cooperation Abd Al-Karim Ismail Al-Arhabi, Minister of Industry & Trade Khalid Rajih Shaykh, Minister of Fisheries Mahmoud Ibrahim Saghiri, Minister of Finance Saif Mahyub Al-Asali, Minister of Oil & Minerals Khalid Mahfuz Bahah, Minister of Legal Affairs Adnan Umar Muhammad Al-Jafri, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammad bin Mirdas Al-Qahtani and a number of senior Yemeni officials. Crown Prince Sultan was accompanied by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, Minister of Commerce & Industry Hashim Ibn Abdallah Yamani, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Agriculture Fahd Ibn Abdul Rahman Ibn Suleiman Balghunaim, Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Muhsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Akkas in addition to a number of princes and senior Saudi officials. A royal statement issued on the occasion said: Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, will pay a state visit to Yemen tomorrow to lead the Saudi delegation to the 17th session of the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council, scheduled for Al-Mukalla Yemen, from June 1 - 2, 2006. The statement issued by the Royal Court said the visit emanates from the ties of fraternity between the two countries, and comes in continuation of the contacts between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and President Ali Abdullah Salih of Yemen and for enhancing the common aspirations of the two brethren peoples. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal co-chaired the official opening session of the seventh session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council in Al-Mukalla, Yemen. Addressing the gathering, Bajamal welcomed the Saudi delegation, led by Crown Prince Sultan, describing the meeting as constituting a new dimension in the close relations binding the two countries under the leadership of President Ali Abullah Salih of Yemen and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. He commended the role Crown Prince Sultan is personally playing to translate the dreams of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council into realities. He said Jeddah historical treaty on the demarcation of borders between Yemen and Saudi Arabia has turned to be a platform for numerous agreements based on a new concept of partnership and integration. All Yemenis are aware of the historical, cultural and social ties binding the Kingdom and Yemen, hoping that this would play its expected role in achieving the economic and cultural integration with Saudi Arabia and all GCC member states, Bajamal said. He said the Yemeni unity has proved to be the basic block in the political and security stability in the Arab peninsula. He expressed hope that the official sessions would discuss matters of mutual concern for the peoples of the two countries. He cited road, power, education, health, ports, airports and water projects as issues deserve to be discussed in the meeting. He described the meeting with Saudi and Yemeni businessmen in Al-Mukalla as a qualitative leap in the relations of the two countries and peoples, assuring that the investment environment and opportunities in Yemen will be available for real partnership for all investors and with high preference. The Yemeni Prime Minister said: "We feel that our partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in implementing the strategically significant projects is crucial. This is particularly witnessed in the area of building roads, with special mention to the Imran-Aden Road, in the gas-based electric power generating sector and in education and health care, in addition to infrastructure development including building sea ports and airports and enhancing water supply." In turn, Crown Prince Sultan expressed thanks to the Yemeni hosts for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. He conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to President Salih, his government and people. He described the meeting as a continuation of the march of partnership and development led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and President Salih. He cited the numerous agreements reached and signed in different developmental, political, security, economic and social fields. He said he is sure the views are identical on all issues to be discussed in this meeting that would constitute a new and firm brick in the march of development of the two countries. Crown Prince Sultan described the Jeddah historic agreement as a translation of the political will of the two countries' leaderships. In this regard, I would like to commend the efforts exerted by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Dr. Rashad Al Olaimi, his Yemeni counterpart, in enforcing the agreements signed between the two countries, particularly in the field of security and fighting of terrorism, and drug trafficking as well as in the field of demarcation of borders and illumination of youth to keep them away of deviant groups, Crown Prince Sultan acknowledged. Regarding the signing of a number of agreements during this session, Crown Prince Sultan called on businessmen in the two sides to exert more efforts to achieve the targeted integration and make it a reality in all fields. Crown Prince Sultan went on to say that the accelerating incidents and sizable challenges facing our Arab and Islamic nations, particularly the situations in Palestine and Iraq, necessitate that we unify our ranks, avoid differences and overcome our minor rifts to enable our nation to achieve its vital interests, including the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and stability in Iraq. Then the 17th session of Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council turned into a closed-door session. The meeting was attended by the Saudi and Yemeni official delegations. Saudi Arabia and Yemen will sign an agreement on the final demarcation of the border between the two countries in a joint session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council that began at the Republican Palace in the scenic city of Mukalla in Yemen. In his presidential address to the first meeting of the 17th session, Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, said "this session will end with the signing of the final maps of the border between the two countries which is tantamount to the translation of the political will of both countries into reality." Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih held a dinner party in honor of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and accompanying delegation. The function was attended by Yemen's Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal Ibn Saud Ibn Mohammed, Prince Faisal Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charity, Prince Mishaal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister Plenipotentiary at the ministry of foreign affairs, senior Saudi protocol officials, Yemeni tribal dignitaries, senior personalities of the province of Hadramout, members of the house or representatives and senior civil and military officials. A Saudi businessmen delegation headed by Abdullah Ibn Mari Ibn Mahfoudh had arrived in Yemen on a two-week visit to Yemen to participate in the first meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni businessmen council. On a statement to the Yemen press agency, Bin Mahfoudh said that the first meeting of Saudi Yemeni Businessmen Council will discuss a number of topics in the field of trade and economy of interest to the two countries. President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with the delegation of the Saudi investors who are participating in the meeting of the Yemeni-Saudi businessmen being held in Mukallah. In the meeting, President Saleh welcomed the Saudi businessmen and investors in their second country, expressing his comfort for the level of Yemeni-Saudi relations between the two countries in various fields, especially after signing the Jeddah historical treaty for drawing the joint borders between the two neighbouring countries. He confirmed the sponsorship of the two countries' leadership to enhance the partnership and develop ties to serve common cooperation between the two countries. He thanked the Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and his Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz and for encouraging them to invest in Yemen. President Saleh renewed his welcome of Saudi investments in Yemen, underling that these investments would be granted all sponsorship and facilities to serve the common interests between the two brotherly countries. He pointed out that he would discuss with the officials of the two countries setting up a free zone between the two countries in al-Wadiah district to be a bridge for exchanging benefits between the two countries. He expressed hope that the meetings of the Yemeni-Saudi businessmen council being held in Mukalla would achieve success in the realization of the common ambitions of both countries. The Saudi businessmen's delegation expressed happiness for visiting Yemen and participating in the meetings of the Yemeni-Saudi businessmen council. They also expressed their desire to invest in Yemen through setting up the common projects with their Yemeni counterparts for enhancing the partnership and achieving the common interests of the two brotherly countries. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih has highlighted the significance of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council, and said it is one of the best Arab coordination councils. In a statement to the press, President Salih said the chairmanship of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal embodies the existing fraternal relations between the Kingdom and Yemen. President Salih pointed out that the GCC has been working to rehabilitate Yemen for admission to the council. He added that Yemen has met so many of the requirements for joining the GCC and has become ready for joining it as an effective member and as strategic depth for its member states. Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Ibn Mirdass Al-Qahtani pointed out that during the 17th session of the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council, agreements will be signed to finance infrastructure projects and two memorandums of understanding will be signed on cooperation in the fields of social affairs and fisheries. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he said that the session to be co-chaired by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and Yemen's Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal in Mukalla, Yemen will crown the previous sessions which have set the mechanisms of joint cooperation in all fields between the two countries. Speaking to reporters after meeting Saudi and Yemeni businessmen, the Yemeni Prime Mnister said he would support the setting up of a Saudi-Yemeni bank to finance joint investment projects. Bajamal said the businessmen had asked him to implement their demands without any bureaucratic hindrance. In response, the Yemeni Prime Minister assured them that he would voice their demands at the council meeting. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General will oversee the signing of final maps marking the joint border of the two countries. Demarcation of the 1,845-km Saudi-Yemeni border was completed in 2004 after 824 markers were put in place. Last April, both countries received maps developed by a German company marking the borderline based on a 2000 treaty. Bajamal said the businessmen had also demanded the release of some SR500 million allocated by the Saudi Fund for Development to carry out development projects in Yemen. Saudi and Yemeni businessmen propose a free trade zone at the council meeting to boost trade relations between the two countries. The businessmen also wanted the coordination council to give a green signal to the formation of a joint company with a capital of SR100 million to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects in Yemen. Another proposal is to grant open visas to businessmen to ease movement between the two countries. |
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