SANAA, 22 June — Saudi Arabia has called for a free trade zone between the Kingdom and Yemen ahead of the scheduled setting up of the Arab Free Trade Zone. Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, who is currently on a three-day visit to Yemen, made this call at the opening function of the expo of Saudi products here which he attended along with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

“The establishment of a free trade zone will strengthen the trade between the two countries,” said Prince Sultan addressing the president and the businessmen of both the countries. The prince noted deep interest on the part of businessmen in both countries to launch joint investment projects. Such projects would boost the development of Saudi Arabia and Yemen and would fulfill the objectives of the economic, commercial and investment agreements signed by the two countries in 1995, Prince Sultan pointed out.

The brotherly relations between the two countries were steeped in antiquity with roots in Islam, Arab heritage and neighborliness, Prince Sultan said.  “The signing of the treaty of international border demarcation shows the keenness of the Saudi and Yemeni leadership to strive for the sake of the present and next generations,” the prince said.  The exhibition of the Saudi products is a result of the government’s continuous encouragement to the industrial sector. The Kingdom’s industries strive to maintain a high quality. This has earned for them a good reputation in the importing countries, he added.  Saleh said the high-level mutual visits strengthened bilateral relations.

The Jeddah agreement has strengthened the historical relations between the two countries and drew a curtain over the past. The current relations are based on mutual trust and is not just a honeymoon, as enemies of both countries point out.”  Ceaseless efforts would be made to strengthen these relations.

Addressing the businessmen, the Yemeni leader said,” We need our Saudi brothers just as the Saudi brothers need us. We welcome the businessmen in the light of the investment regulations.”

The function was attended by Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad, Prince Turki, chief of the general intelligence, and Prince Faisal ibn Sultan and several other princes and ministers.

In another development, Yemen denied that there were any threat to the safety of the FBI officials in the country. He has information to prove that reports about the alleged threat to the safety of FBI personnel in Yemen are baseless, said Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Addressing the Saudi and Yemeni media here yesterday, the president explained that there was a reported media furor over the exchange of statements between the FBI and US State Department. The State Department disapproved the FBI’s decision to leave Yemen because they, the department feels, should be the last to leave the country in such conditions. Replying to a question on the attack on the USS Cole, Saleh said “according to his information, the nine people mentioned by the Americans in this connection could not have been involved in the attack.”

“Americans gave the attack a dimension which is not based on truth as these nine people are group of salafis of Yemeni origin. They did not belong to the Jihad or Aden Army, or Abyan or Qaidah. According to my knowledge, they are salafis who have no political connections,” Saleh said.

The president denied strains in the relations between Washington and Sanaa in the wake of the closure of the US Consulate. According to the information received by the Americans, the explosion on the USS Cole could have resulted from bustle and crush among the visa applicants.” Yemenis still get visa to visit the US though the consulate is closed, the president said. Speaking on Saudi-Yemeni relations, Saleh said: “My vision is more than clear. The Jeddah Agreement has strengthened the relations in an unprecedented manner. These relations are rooted in the trust, love and partnership between the two countries.” He hoped that the Saudi-Yemeni ties would serve the Arab cause. The Yemeni president strongly denied there were obstacles in the way of border demarcation. “The company assigned the task of demarcating the border doesn’t face any obstacle and there is full coordination between the two countries in this regard. I am not aware of any obstacles and there cannot be any obstacle. If you are referring to statements made by some tribal people they are only worthless bubble.”

He said that foreign investors, particularly Saudis, will have legal guarantees for their investment in Yemen. He wondered why some countries have become sources of rumors about instability in Yemen. He also said the security situation in Yemen was very good and the crime rate was less than that of the US. The smuggling across the Saudi-Yemeni borders have come down considerably after the signing of the security treaty between the two countries. The confiscated weapons and drugs were worth $100 million, he said. The president was emphatic that his son Ahmad has no more claim to the presidency of the country than any other citizen.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council ended its 13th meeting yesterday.