WE HOPE ECONOMIC SUPPORT STRATEGY FROM LONDON CONFERENCE: YEMEN

By: Mahmoud Assamiee and Abu Bakr Abdullah

SANA'A, Jan. 12 (Saba)- Yemen expects from London Conference, to be
held this January 28, to come out with a strategy to support Yemen's
infrastructure, development and economy, Minister of Foreign
Affairs Abu Bakr al-Qirbi has said.

"Yemen has been calling for international support to build
infrastructure, combating poverty and creating jobs, besides support
in combating terrorism," Said al-Qirbi in a press conference held at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

London conference, which British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has
called for to help Yemen developments and its efforts in fighting
terrorism, was the focus of the press conference.

He affirmed that Yemen is intending to continue its war against
terrorism and that Yemen will not allow international forces to
exist in its territories to fight terrorists given that Yemeni
security forces realize achievements in cracking down on Al Qaeda
network in the country.

Al- Qirbi started the conference by pointing out to the falsified
information circulated by media outlets over President Ali Abdullah
Saleh's statement over a dialogue with Al-Qaeda and Houthis." The
president intended to say that the government appreciates the
dialogue with youth mislead by Al-Qaeda to hate violence and abandon
arms. He aimed by this call to affirm that terrorism can not fight
only by military actions but also with other means like dialogue,"
he said.

Over rebellion in Sa'ada, the minister affirmed that Yemen will not
accept any interference from any body in this case because this
issue is Yemeni and interior affairs and that because this group has
rebelled against the state and committed crimes against citizens,
there are no options for them other than to accept the six
conditions announced by the president.

Over Kidnapped German citizens and the Briton, Minster al-Qirbi said
that security forces have defined their place in Sa'ada governorate
and efforts are going on to release them.

Over Sheikh Abdul-Majid Al-Zindani's attitude over London conference
and his statement against the United State and not denouncing Osama
bin Ladin, al-Qirbi said Shikh Al-Zindani has his own opinion and
his attitude does not represent of the sate "he is critical to Yemen
as to the United State."

Over threat announced by Youth Mujahideen Movement in Somalia to
support Al-Qaeda elements in Yemen, he said the government has dealt
with this issue seriously and will take necessary measures to stop
this group reach Yemen.

He indicated that Al-Qaeda network has become today international
system and fighting it requires international efforts and
cooperation, indicating that the threat of Al-Qaeda is not limited
only on Yemen but on the whole world including the United States
which lists 550, 000 people as having links with terrorists.

On a question that the government employs Al-Qaeda to gain
international support, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abu Bakr al-Qirbi
said " this saying is baseless and because the government's aim is
not the support, the international community will not provide any
support unless there is a need to support Yemen to fight terrorism
and enabling its security forces to play more active role."

Regarding Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh's recent visit to
Yemen, the minister said the minister's visit aimed at clarifying
what media outlets has published over trafficking arms to Yemen and
there are Houhti elements are being trained in Eritrea.

Over his visit to the Unite Sates, he made it clear that he will
negotiate with US officials over issues concerning Yemen as the
United States is important partner with Yemen in development issues
via its direct and indirect support. He will also talk with them on
joining Yemen to the World Trade Organization and free zones between
Yemen and the United States.

Regarding Iranian Foreign Minster's recent statements on
American-Zionist project in Yemen, al-Qirbi said these statements
come within verbal clashes between Iran and Israel and that Yemen
will not allow any one to intervene in its affairs.

endesk@sabanews.net
assamieemahmoud@yhaoo.com