EU BACKS STABLE YEMEN

SANA'A, Oct. 22 (Saba) – Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and
Security Affairs and Minister of Local Administration Rashad
al-Alimi met on Thursday with a delegation from the European
Commission led by Michael Merker.

The meeting focused on security and antiterrorism efforts in Yemen
as well as assistance the EC may offer for the country in this
regard.

During the meeting, Merker affirmed the EU support for Yemen and all
efforts made to establish its stability and boot its security.

Al-Alimi also met with the ambassadors of Spain and Italy and the EC
representative in Sana'a, and discussed the situation in the north
and humanitarian aid provided for the refugees as the army continues
to rid the northern provinces of Saada and Amran of the Houthi
insurgents.

The government is doing its best to deliver aid for the affected by
the clashes, saying further efforts are underway to set up safe
pathways for relief organizations to reach the displaced, al-Alimi
said.

Moreover, al-Alimi met on Thursday with France's envoy to Yemen
Joseph Silva and the two discussed the bilateral relationship
between their countries.

The meeting also dealt with arrangements to launch the LNG project
at the Balhaf area in Yemen's southern Shabwa province.

On Monday, The European Union decided to strengthen its diplomatic
representation in Yemen to an embassy level under an envoy-at-large.

The move has recently been passed by the European Parliament.

A source at the Yemeni embassy in Brussels said the European
Commission would start soon taking necessary steps to bring the
decision into effect.

The days to come will witness events that will be aimed at
strengthening the Yemen-Europe political and developmental
relations.

Later this month, the Yemeni-European Committee will meet in
Brussels and be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic
Affaris and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul
Karim al-Arhabi.

The October 27 meeting will discuss ways to strengthen the
partnership between Yemen and the European Union to provide more
development support for Yemen.

And on October 28, the sixth round of the Yemeni-European Political
Dialog Committee will take place and be chaired by Deputy Foreign
Minister Mohyee al-Din al-Dhabbi.

The meeting will review aspects of political and strategic
cooperation between Yemen and the EU. The two sides will also hold
talks on issues of mutual interest.

FR