JEDDAH, 19 February 2004 — Saudi Arabia and Yemen have agreed to bolster their border security cooperation in order to prevent cross-border arms smuggling and infiltration, a joint statement said.
“The security and stability of the two countries are a joint responsibility,” said the statement at the conclusion of the two-day Riyadh visit of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The statement did not mention the security fence the Kingdom has been building along the 1,800 km porous border between the two Arab neighbors.
Saleh held talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, on major global issues and strengthening bilateral ties.
“The two countries affirm their desire to promote their brotherly relations, cooperation and partnership, with the same brotherly spirit reflected in the border pact they signed on June 12, 2000,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen urged security agencies in both countries “to make combined efforts, continuously coordinate and remove all obstacles that hinder their cooperation.”
The statement said there was full agreement on joint patrols on the mountainous border, on points allowing passage to herders, setting up posts to monitor border security and joint security arrangements in areas prone to infiltration and smuggling.
“We are confident that if we work together and focus on the areas that threaten the security of both countries, we will achieve the results we want,” said Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qurbi who accompanied Saleh.
The two countries condemned all forms of terrorism and vowed to strengthen cooperation to stamp out terrorism and combat terrorists.
The statement also emphasized the need to protect the unity of Iraq, end the occupation and enable its people to administer their own affairs freely.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen reiterated their support for the Arab peace plan for the Middle East endorsed by the Beirut Arab summit. They also called on the United Nations and the quartet members to implement the road map and take steps to protect the Palestinian people from Israeli aggression.
The two countries emphasized the need to strengthen the Arab League and develop its agencies, and urged the next Arab summit in Tunisia to take the necessary steps to do so. They also called for a strengthening of Arab security and military agreements in order to help the Arab nation confront outside challenges.
