JEDDAH, 12 December 2004 — Saudi Arabia and Yemen yesterday began high-level talks in Riyadh to strengthen mutual cooperation and an informed Yemeni source said the talks would be crowned with the signing of 11 bilateral accords.
Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qader Bajammal presided over a coordination council meeting which also called for greater cooperation to combat terrorism.
“People all over the world, especially those in Arab and Islamic countries are looking forward to a world of peace and security where there will be no place for violence and terrorism,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted Prince Sultan as telling the meeting.
Khaled Al-Akoue, Yemeni ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the meeting would witness the signing of 11 agreements to promote political and economic cooperation between the two neighbors. He estimated Saudi investments in Yemen at more than $400 million.
In his opening address, Prince Sultan underscored the historic relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and said Riyadh would use all its strength to maintain these ties. He said the two countries would continue their efforts in combating terrorism and protecting their youths from its danger.
“During our meeting a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding will be signed,” the prince said, adding that the new accords would further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Prince Sultan called for greater Arab and Islamic cooperation and unity to confront challenges. He also hoped that the Palestinians would be able to establish their independent state and Iraq would retain its pivotal role in the Arab world.
Bajammal reaffirmed Yemen’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the latter’s fight against terror. “We’ll continue our cooperation with various security agencies to contain terrorism,” the Yemeni premier said. “The security of the two countries is inter-linked,” he said quoting a statement of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
“The long borders between the two countries demand greater security coordination,” Bajammal said. “We are also looking forward to strengthening economic, commercial, investment and cultural cooperation...to achieve a real partnership relation,” he added.
During the meeting, the Saudi side was represented by top officials including Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed, State Minister and Acting Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khuwaiter, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi and Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari.
On the Yemeni side, main participants were Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Ahmed Soufan and ministers of higher education, telecommunications and information technology, social affairs and labor, agriculture, and water.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen signed a landmark border agreement on June 12, 2000, setting the stage for a new era of relations. Interior Minister Prince Naif described the treaty as a good example for all Arab countries to emulate in settling disputes. The two countries signed a $986 million contract with German firm Hansa Luftbild to stake out their common border in detail.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen have established a number of joint ventures in recent years. The most important among them are: The Yemeni-Saudi Hospital, the $100 million Movenpick hotel in Sanaa, Holiday Inn hotel in Hadramout and two cement factories.
The Yemeni central bank has received an offer to establish a Saudi-Yemeni holding company with a capital of $1 billion, Al-Riyadh Arabic daily reported quoting high-level sources. The new company will specialize in tourism, the paper added.
