FM reviews with journalists Yemen issues since 1990

SANA'A ,April 10 (Saba)- Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi reviewed here on Saturday a number of issues and developments at the Yemeni arena at the political ,economic and security levels.

In the meeting organized by the Yemeni Media Center in Cairo with participation of a number of Arab and foreign journalists, al-Qirbi dealt with the developmental and democratic changes witnessed by Yemen since the reunification day on May 22, 1990, indicating that the Yemeni democratic experience despite its youth, it has made significant steps and created a "democratic culture".

Yemen has begun a new stage of political and democratic action after the parliamentary elections in1993, which was the first democratic elections organized in Yemen after the unity declaration, al-Qirbi pointed out.

He pointed out that Yemen encountered after this experience a major challenge represented in the secession attempt in 1994, but the Yemeni people in various groups and political and national forces addressed that trial.

Moreover, al-Qirbi spoke about the efforts made by the political leadership in order to enhance the stability and strengthen the relationship with its regional surrounding, explaining the options pursued by Yemen in solving its border problems with the neighboring countries.

Furthermore, he pointed to the efforts in strengthening the process of development and the contributions of development partners from donor countries and organizations to support the development plans and programs in Yemen.

The donors conference held in London in 2006 resulted in pledges of more than $ 5 billion from donor countries and organizations to support Yemen's plans for comprehensive development, but the delay in the fulfillment of those commitments has negatively effected on development plans, al-Qirbi pointed out.

He stated that the government has early realized that the economic problems were the primary cause of the rise of extremism and the subordination of youth to extremists and terrorist elements, especially that 60 percent of Yemen's population are under 25 years old.

On the support hoped for development efforts in Yemen, al-Qirbi made it clear that Yemen is still in need of substantial support for financing comprehensive development plans.

Regarding the economic challenges and the alternatives pursued by the government to tackle the effects of lower oil prices, he said that Yemen faces major challenges in this aspect, particularly after the sharp decline in oil prices.

He pointed that the government has moved recently to encourage investment and attract the Arab and foreign capitals to Yemen as well as strengthening the role of tourism sector and utilizing the great potentials of this sector.

"Yemen believes in the importance of foreign policy that opens the doors to investment, and we understand that and this is the greatest challenge facing Yemen", said al-Qirbi, adding that Yemen is seeking to create a real economic partnership, especially with the GCC countries.

In regard to the efforts to bring peace in Saada province, the foreign minister said that the political leadership decided to halt the military operations after the commitment of the insurgents to implement the state's six conditions to end the war, within the state' keenness to enhance peace and devote all energies to the reconstruction efforts.

In response to questions from journalists about relations with Somalia and the negative effects on Yemen due to the continued unrest in Somalia, al-Qribi affirmed that Yemen bears a large part of burdens left by the continuing volatile situation in Somalia, pointing that Yemen hosting over 700 thousand Somali refugees, many of them are not registered in the lists of the UNHCR.

"The Somali problem reflections did not affect Yemen only, but also many countries, including Ethiopia and Eritrea", said al-Qirbi.

On the Yemeni-Saudi relations, the foreign minister described them as brotherly, historical and distinct relations in all areas, noting at the same time to the current coordination between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.

Regarding the relations with Iran, he affirmed that there are good relations between Yemen and Iran, indicating that the support received by the al-Houthi elements in Saada was from some religious sects, and not by the state and the Iranian regime.

On the relationship between Yemen and South America countries, he pointed out that it is distinct in the political and economic, especially with Brazil and Cuba.

BA