YEMEN RELATIONS WITH SYRIA EVER-DEVELOPING, YEMENI ENVOY SAYS

DAMASCUS, May 23 (Saba)- The united Yemen is an example for the inter-Arab relations as they should be, said the Yemeni ambassador to Syria, adding that this unity enabled Yemen to play its pan-Arab role aiming at enhancing joint Arab action and cooperation with brotherly countries.

Abdul-Wahhab Tawwaf hailed Syria's supportive stances to Yemen's stability and security, adding he is proud of President Bashar al-Assad's efforts regarding pan-Arab issues and strengthening Arab partnership ties.

In an interview to Syrian Arab News Agency, the Yemeni ambassador said that Syria and Yemen have long-standing, outstanding economic relations embodied in the Syrian-Yemeni Joint Committee which held its 9th session in Damascus last year.

‘’12 agreements, protocols and executive programs in the fields of culture, media, transport, fish, petroleum, electricity, water, communication and environment were signed during the session’’, said Tawwaf.

"The volume of trade exchange between the two countries has not reached to the level of the relations between the two brotherly countries. It was USD 32 millions in 2007 rising to USD 61,5 millions in 2008, however, it declined in the last year to USD 30 millions", Tawwaf added.

The ambassador pointed out that Yemen imports several Syrian goods such as cereals, olive, medicines, clothes and cleaning materials. It exports to Syria fish, banana and some kinds of fruits such as mango.

Tawwaf indicated that Syria and Yemen have high tourist factors which pushed tourist cooperation between the two countries forward through signing a protocol on organizing relations and visits exchange.