Yemeni- German negotiations commenced in Berlin

BERLIN, May 13 (Saba)- Yemen and Germany began on Wednesday annual
negotiations' sessions over cooperation between the two countries.

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul-Karim
al-Arhabi and Officer of Middle East Department in German Ministry
of Cooperation and Development Endreas Gies co-chaired the sessions.

Commencing the negotiations, al-Arhabi reviewed developments of
economic and political challenges facing Yemen. He expressed Yemen's
gratitude to German support to Yemen's development.

Al-Arhabi noted that regular German's assistances have helped in
realizing development in main sectors in Yemen, water, education,
vocational training, health, economy and developing human resources.

He informed German officials on the nature and types of these
achievements in fields of political and economic reforms in the
country. Judicial reforms, improving investment environment,
improving civil service and fighting corruption are also among of
these reforms. He affirmed Yemen's determination on going on in
implementing financial and administrative reforms in different
sectors.

He indicated aftermaths of food and financial crisis on Yemen and
the great burdens on the public budget due to drop of oil prices.

For his part, the German official voiced his country's readiness to
continue assistances to Yemen's development and contribution in
realizing sustainable development.

He expressed his country admiration to achievements Yemen has
realized in the field of implementing reforms. He announced that
Germany's government has allocated € 73 millions as assistances to
Yemen to 2009-2010 to finance development activities and programs in
several fields.

He pointed out that other German organization will also work on
provide additional assistances to Yemen to face aftermaths of food
crises.

MA