[20 September 2007]

SANA'A, (Saba) - The regional director of Middle East and North Africa at British Ministry for International Development Michel Anderson affirmed on Wednesday his government's readiness to
carry on offering all aspects of development support for Yemen.

In a meeting held here with the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul Karim al-Arhabi, Anderson said that the British Ministry for International Development is to provide
technical assistance to the planning and international cooperation ministry and the Social Welfare Fund.

The meeting discussed the procedures that Yemen and UK have agreed on to implement resolutions of the partnership agreement signed recently between both countries, which is considered to be the first of its kind between UK and a state in the middle east.

Al-Arhabi appreciated the British government's support for enhancing development in Yemen, emphasizing Yemen's keenness to advance the ongoing relations between Yemen and United Kingdom.

Worth mentioning, United Kingdom ranks as the first of the western donor countries supporting Yemen with about €100 million annually.

FR/AF

Saba