AL-ARHABI : LONDON CONFERENCE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YEMEN'S

SANA'A, Jan.04 (Saba) - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs
and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul-Karim
al-Arhabi considered on Monday the international conference on Yemen
to be held end of January in the UK capital, London, a great
opportunity to review the economic and developmental challenges
faced by Yemen.

Al-Arhabi affirmed during his meeting with the British ambassador in
Sana'a Tim Torlo the importance of donor countries' initiative to
put Yemen on the list of the countries to get care and assistance
within a long-term support program to help Yemen to overcome the
challenges it faces.

He pointed out that combating terrorism and extremism should be
based on an integral system of security and developmental efforts
thorough improving the living level, activating mechanisms and
efforts of combating poverty and joblessness and confronting
extremism spots with a comprehensive and sustainable development and
providing job opportunities for youth.

These issues top the priorities list of the government during the
coming period, al-Arhabi added.

In the meeting, al-Arhabi was briefed by the British ambassador on
the underway preparations for holding the London conference, which
43 states are expected to partake in, to assist Yemen to face the
current challenges in the security and economic areas.

The UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Friday for an
international conference to address Yemen's economic, political and
security issues.

The conference was said to focus on the counterterrorism after the
Christmas failed attack on a U.S. Detroit-bound passenger jet
claimed by al-Qaeda in Yemen.

Britain would work along with international partners to help Yemen
to face al-Qaeda, Brown's office said.

The call for a conference on January 28 has received applause from
the While House and the European Union, the office said, adding
Brown will try in coming days to gain the support of Saudi Arabia
and other Arabian Gulf states.

BA