[12/January/2010]

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.

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assamieemahmoud@yhaoo.com







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