LONDON SUMMIT ENDS WITH YEMEN SUPPORT COMMITMENT

LONDON, Jan. 27 (Saba) – Today's London Summit on Yemen focused on
supporting the Yemeni government to face and root out extremism,
starting with its roots and reasons and supporting development, UK's
Foreign Minister David Miliband said in a press conference following
the conference.

The press conference was held by Miliband, Foreign Minister Abu Bakr
al Qirb and the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

I take this opportunity to talk about the goals of the conference
and mechanisms for implementing its decisions as the time comes for
taking concrete steps to support Yemen, taking into account
respecting the country's sovereignty and independence.

Britain and Yemen's friends and partners decided in the meeting,
that was called by Prime Minister Gordon Brown early this month, to
work together on Yemen's problems, with further aid given to Yemen
that must be focused on political and economic landscapes, he added.

For his part, al Qirbi said that the conference came out with
decisions to meet the demands of the Yemeni people through providing
aid to deal with economic issues that aggravated the political
situation and helped the emergence of terrorism.

We have achieved in two hours what can't be achieved in days and our
talk was concentrated and transparent, with participants affirming
that Yemen-donor partnership in the best interest of Yemen, he said.

What was agreed in it was that donors promised to help Yemen, first
and foremost, to bring solutions to political problems and
conflicts, implement comprehensive economic reforms and fight
terror, he concluded.

The meeting addressed Yemen's growing challenges, that if not
addressed, risk threatening the stability of the country and broader
region. The government of Yemen has identified the following areas
which are of most concern and require urgent action.

i) Improved international coordination and support on Yemen.

ii) Work on finding a shared analysis of the challenges facing
Yemen, including conditions conducive to radicalisation and
instability, and agreement that a comprehensive approach is needed
to address them, and ...

iii) The need for greater support and impetus to the political and
economic reform agenda, including urgent and concrete action by the
government of Yemen. [to be adjusted in the light of Yemeni
contributions.

The government of Yemen recognises the urgent need to address these
issues which will take sustained and focused engagement. It was
agreed that responsibility for tackling these challenges lies first
and foremost with the Government of Yemen, drawing on the support of
the wider region and international community.

The meeting welcomed:

- The declared commitment of the Government of Yemen to continue to
pursue its reform agenda, and to initiate discussion of an IMF
programme. This will provide welcome support and help the government
to confront immediate challenges.

- The announcement by the GCC Secretary General that he will host a
meeting of Gulf and other international donors on Yemen in Riyadh on
22-23 February. The meeting will share analysis on the barriers to
effective aid in Yemen, leading to a joint dialogue with the
government of Yemen, including on priority reforms.

- The commitment by the international community to supporting the
Government of Yemen in the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula. As well as the recent U.N. Sanctions Committee decisions
to designate AQAP, and the commitment by participants at this
meeting to fully enforce the terms of the designation of AQAP andits
leadership under the UNSCR 1267 regime.

- The determination of the international community to engage further
in support of Yemeni government efforts to build law enforcement,
legislative, judicial and security capacities. Yemen's partners
agreed to support Yemeni government initiatives to strengthen their
counter-terrorist capabilities, and to enhance aviation and
bordersecurity. This will include work on both land and maritime
borders, including on strengthening the Yemeni Coastguard.

- The launch of a 'Friends of Yemen' process, which will address the
broad range of challenges facing Yemen. It will be supported by two
working groups on economy and governance, and justice and law
enforcement. These should meet in time to report back to the first
Friends of Yemen meeting, which should take place in the region
inlate March.

FR