June 2, 2006

THE YEMENI PRESIDENT HOLDS A LUNCHEON PARTY IN HONOUR OF CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN AL-MUKALLAH. THE CROWN PRINCE ESTABLISHES AT HIS OWN EXPENSES THE PRINCE SULTAN CENTER FOR CANCERS IN AL-MUKALLAH. THE SIGNING OF A NUMBER OF AGREEMENT AMONGST WHICH THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BORDER DEMARCATION MAPS. THE FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ REITERATES THE CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM, THE AGREEMENT ON PUSHING FORWARD THE PEACE PROCESS AND WARNS FROM UNILATERAL MEASURES ON THE PALESTINIAN ARENA. THE COMMUNIQUÉ CALLS FOR THE UNITY OF IRAQ AND ITS STABILITY AND WELCOMES THE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION FOR THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR FILE AND RENEWS THE CALL FOR A MIDDLE EAST FREE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih held a luncheon party in honour 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, Prince Mishaal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior Saudi officials, Yemeni tribal dignitaries, senior personalities of the province of Hadramout, members of the house or representatives and senior civil and military officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, was received by Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal. They reviewed issues of mutual interest. The reception was attended by Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal, graced the reception party held by the Saudi and Yemeni Businessmen in Al Mukalla, Yemen. Upon arrival at the venue, Crown Prince Sultan, accompanied by Bajamal, laid the foundation stone of Hadramout University Hospital. Addressing the gathering, Abdullah Bahamdan, delivered a speech on behalf of the Saudi businessmen. He welcomed Crown Prince Sultan and his companions, lauding Jeddah border agreement which he said has finally ended confusion and misunderstanding between the two countries. He lauded the bilateral relations between the two countries, announcing the donation of Saudi businessmen to establish a college of technology at the University of Hadramout to be named after Prince Sultan. The Crown Prince appreciated the most distinguished cooperation between the Yemeni and Saudi businessmen. "I am highly looking forward to continue the bilateral relations and the joint work in the field of development and the common projects which need some years to be fully implemented." Prince Sultan said." Referring to the Yemeni Saudi cooperation Prince Sultan said "There is no looser, because all are winners." He also praised the good results and recommendations of the 17th round of the Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council that would serve the common interests of the two countries. In the meeting, Mohammed Abdu Said and Abdullah Ba Hammdan delivered two speeches on behalf of the Yemeni-Saudi businessmen in which they expressed their hope more progress and development in the Yemeni-Saudi economic, commercial and investment relations during the forthcoming period. They have also pointed out that the challenges of globalization and the international gatherings force the two countries and the other regional countries to enhance the economic, commercial and investment integration among them. They confirmed that the Yemeni-Saudi businessmen have a common desire to extend the commercial and investment cooperation relations to achieve the entire partnership. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz and the Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadar Bajamal laid the foundation stone for project of Prince Sultan University Hospital which will be funded by Prince Sultan. They have also laid the foundation stone for the Prince Sultan Technical College that belongs to the Science and Technology University of Hadramout. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General announced that he would establish a centre for cancers in Mukalla at his own expense. Prince Sultan made the announcement about setting up the Prince Sultan Center for Cancers during an opera performance held in May 22nd, hall in Mukalla that was attended by 450 student in honor of Prince Sultan and his accompanying delegation. Yemen's Hadramout governorate welcomed Friday Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General as the guest of honor of its 16th national day celebrations. The festivities were attended by Yemeni Prime Minister Abdel Qadir Bajamal. Speaking on the occasion, Abdel Qadir Hilal, the governor of Hadramout, said the 17th session of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council coincides with the anniversary of the Yemeni unification. He hoped that the council would positively contribute to further cementing Saudi-Yemeni relations. Co-chaired by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal, the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council concluded its 17th session in Al Mukalla, Yemen, on Friday. During the meeting, a number of agreements between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen were signed. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Dr. Rashad Al-Olaimi, Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, signed an agreement accrediting the final version of the borders between the two countries according to Jeddah Border Treaty. Prince Saud Al Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister, and Dr. Abu-Bakr Al-Girbi, Yemen's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, signed an agreement on exchange of accredited documents pertaining to a memorandum of understanding in the field of preservation of biological diversity between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen. The agreement to construct the SR90 million Haidan - Aljuma'a - Alminzalah road in Sa'ada province in Yemen was signed by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Saudi Minister of Finance, and Abdul Karim Al-Arahabi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Yemen. The two ministers also signed an agreement to construct Majaz Ghamr - Razeh road in the same province at a cost of SR26.25 million. Al-Assaf and Al-Arhabi also signed an additional loan agreement appropriating SR118.75 million to finance main roads in different parts of Yemen. The two ministers also signed an agreement of financing goods and services in the field of power sector worth SR100 milion. Al-Assaf and Yemen's counterpart Dr. Saif Al'Asali signed an agreement on exchanging accredited documents of cooperation in the field of customs between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen. Saudi Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Mohsin Al-Akkas and Al-Arhabi signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of social affairs between the two countries. Minister of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Fahd Balghunaim and Yemen's Minister of Fisheries Eng. Mahmoud Sa'gheeri signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of fisheries between the Kingdom and Yemen. The 17th session of the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council, held in Mukalla, Yemen, from June 1 - 2, 2006 under the co-chairmanship of Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal, has issued a joint communique at the conclusion of its deliberations. Following is the text of the communiqué: In continuation to the approach adopted by the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Sultan has paid a three-day state visit to Yemen during which he was received by President Ali Abdullah Salih to discuss bilateral relations. The President and the Crown Prince expressed satisfaction over the efforts being exerted by officials in the two countries to consolidate these relations. They confirmed determination to continue enhancing fruitful cooperaion in all fields to the aspirations of the two countries. The Yemeni side expressed appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz for his call to forge a program framework for development in Yemen to support comprehensive development and to rehabilitate the Yemeni economy. Addressing the opening session, Crown Prince Sultan and Bajamal confirmed the keenness of the leaderships of the two countries on enhancing the joint cooperation relations in all fields and expressed satisfaction over the steps taken within the ongoing coordination and cooperation between the two countries. On the political field, the two sides confirmed determination to reach their noble goals on bases of Islamic faith and Arab identity. They reiterated their condemnation of terrorist acts, asserting that the principles of Islam are based on justice, mercy and tolerance and prohibit attacking or harming the innocent. The two sides' views on the Arab and Islamic situations and on the international issues of mutual concern were identical, the communique said. On the Palestinian issue, they agreed on the importance of promoting the peace process in the region towards the resumption of negotiations among the parties to reach fair and comprehensive peace in the region. In this regard, they warned from unilateral approach to address the thorny problems in the region. They called for focusing on the final solution of the dispute in the region, based on the principle of land for peace, international legitimacy resolutions, concept of two independent states, road map, and Arab peace initiative. They emphasized the importance of respecting the democratic choice of the Palestinian people, calling on the donor governments and organizations to continue providing assistance for the Palestinian people to alleviate their suffering as seige would never serve peace. Instead, it leads to more violence and extremism, the statement said. The two sides called on the Palestinian factions to reject difference and enhance their national unity. They confirmed that achieving international security and peace in the region necessitates preventing nuclear weapons race and obliges the accession of Israel to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty and to put all its nuclear facilities at the disposal of international inspectors, noting the importance of making the middle east nuclear free. They voiced support for the current tendency to choose the diplomatic option to solve the Iranian nuclear file impasse, acknowledging the right of all countries in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. On Iraq, they welcomed the formation of the new Iraqi government, hoping it would lead to stability of the Arab country and preserve its independence, sovereignty, regional integrity and national unity. They said they are gearing forward to the convening of the Iraqi National Reconciliation Conference within the Arab League, calling on the world community and Iraq's neighbouring countries to support these efforts. The statement lauded Darfur agreement reached by Sudan government and rebels, hoping that donors would live up to their words on rehabilitation of Darfur. They expressed worry over ongoing fighting in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, calling on warring factions to lay down weapons and resort to reason. They called on donor states to support the Somali government to enable it to control the country, hoping for non-interference in the internal affairs of Somalia. Confirming that the security of the two countries of Saudi Arabia and Yemen is integral, they called for continuation of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the field of security within the bilateral security agreement. They agreed to exert more efforts to cooperate in the field of combating terrorism and drug trafficking and in the field of organizing the border authorities, and illuminating of youth to keep them away from deviant groups. They expressed welcome of signing the final version of the border demarcation maps. Documents of a memorandum of understanding on biological diversity and customs cooperation between the two countries were exchanged during the meetings, the statement said. On the developmental field, the two sides signed a number of agreements on road construction, electric services and goods. In this regard, the Yemeni side expressed profound appreciation of the Saudi government for the support extended in the field of financing developmental projects in Yemen through soft grants and assistance. A memorandum of understanding on fisheries, and cooperation agreement in the field of social affairs were also signed by ministers from the two sides. The communique lauded the remarkable development that has been achieved in the commercial exchange size and agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in this field through a number of steps, including the increase of cross trade size, elimination of obstacles that might impede the flow of trade between the two countries, exchange of visits, holding of exhibitions and symposiums, activation of the role of the Saudi Yemeni Business Council, establishment of economic free trade zones on the border, encouraging businessmen in the two countries to avail themselves of the finance facilities, provision of training for technicians and specialists of Yemen at Saudi agricultural laboratories, installation of test devices at border outlets to contribute to the flow of exports between the two countries and neighbouring countries. The two sides agreed to open Al-Wadee'a post on the border. On transportation, they agreed to continue cooperation and coordination among the authorities concerned to eliminate all obstacles facing transport operations between the two countries. On his part, Crown Prince Sultan thanked the Yemeni side for warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and accompanying delegation and for the efforts exerted by the Yemeni authorities to make this meeting a success, inviting Bajamal and members of the Yemeni side in the Council to attend the 18th session in the Kingdom. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, has sent a cable to Yemeni Prime Minister Abdel Qadir Bajamal on the occasion of his departure from Yemen. Prince Sultan expressed appreciation for the warm welcome given to him by the Yemeni officials. He also hailed the positive outcome of the meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council at its 17th session. Prince Sultan hoped that the talks he had held with the Yemeni officials would positively contribute to further cementing Saudi-Yemeni cooperation and understanding in all domains. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, left Yemen after an official visit to Yemen. While in Yemen, Prince Sultan led the Saudi side at the meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council. He was seen off at Al-Rayan airport by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Prime Minister Abdel Qadir Bajamal, and a number of senior military and civil officials as well as notables and Saudi ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Qahtani. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, returned to Riyadh from Mukallah after an official visit to Yemen. On arrival at Riyadh airbase airport, he was received by Prince Abdullah Ibn Mohammad Al-Saud; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, a number of other princes and senior officials.