Prince Talal Holds Press Conference [Archives:2000/42/Front Page]
October 16 2000
Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz and Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Bitani, Insurance and Social
In the press conference, Prince Talal said There are four countries that started adopting the idea of establishing banks for the poor; Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen.
So as to establish the Bank he said that Yemeni government shall contribute with $ 2,5 million, Arab Gulf Program with $ 2 million and the private sector with $ 1 million. He called upon the Yemeni government represented by the Parliament to pass a law so as to start establishment of the bank.
In response to YT question on his evaluation of the NGOs, he said They are good and are doing commendable activities. In general, they are the basis for the development of the civil society. Yemen has more than 2000 NGOs which should be supported to achieve sustainable development in the country.
On the Arab Summit scheduled on October 21, he said I hope every Arab leader will come with a vision of the results of the summit. I also hope the summit wont come out with a only a statement. Recommendations of the conference should be carried out.
He also expressed his fear from the Sharm al-Shaikh Summit which will be attended by the American President Bill Clinton. He expressed his hopes that the Arab leaders will be very determined to overcome any obstacles that may stand at their face due to holding the Sharm al-Sheikh Summit specially as the latter will be held before the Arab Summit Conference. He also said that the role of the Arab league should be activated in terms of rotating its general secretariat presidency among the Arab countries.
Prince has visited some NGOs in the country and donated $ 130 thousand to the Sustainable Development Woman Society in Aden. He also donated $ 120 thousand for fighting the Rift valley fever spread in Yemen and $ 1 million for the Palestinian Intifadah.
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