Saleh in Moscow for official visit

MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in the Russian Capital
Moscow, on Tuesday on an official visit to Russia for three days.

The visit comes as a response to an invitation from Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, during which Saleh will hold talks with Russian officials regarding
bilateral cooperation ties between the two friendly countries and horizons of
developing them in different fields.

Upon his arrival to Moscow, the President confirmed that the visit comes within the
permanent communication between the two friendly countries to strengthen mutual
cooperation relations in different fields, topped by the economic, trade, investment
and military fields.

He highlighted the subjects and issues to be discussed with the Russian officials
would be focused on the regional and international developments of common interests
out of which is the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Iraq as
well as coordinating the two countries' efforts against piracy acts in the Gulf of
Aden and off coasts of Somalia.

"Yemen supports Russia's plans for holding an international conference for peace to
deal with terrorism issues, piracy" the President said, adding Russia should play an
effective role for combating piracy threatens the international navigation in the
region.

He assured that Russia has become "stronger and more effective" than before due to
the wise policy of its leaders, ''so it is able to hold its historical
responsibility in strengthening the security and stability in the region and the
world''.

During his visit, President Saleh will meet with Russian companies' representatives
and businessmen in order to invite them for investing in Yemen, particularly those
working in petroleum, gas, minerals and fish investments as well as to brief them on
the advantages, facilities and guarantees offered by Yemen for foreign investors.

The President affirmed that the visit will contribute to creating better
understanding between the two countries' officials for expanding the relations'
horizons, hoping that this visit comes out with good results assisting in promoting
the two countries' ties.

BA/AF