Foreign ministers meetYemen and Algeria to boost cooperation [Archives:2004/789/Business & Economy]

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November 11 2004

Yemen and Algeria signed agreements recently to promote consulate cooperation and to boost coordination between the foreign ministries in the two countries.
In a statement issued at the end of a two-day visit by Algerian foreign minister Abdulaziz Belkhadem to Sana'a, the two countries stressed the need for more cooperation at different levels including energy, oil, gas and investments.
Yemen foreign minister Dr. Abu Bakr al-Qirbi and Abdulaziz Belkhadem said in a press conference that there is “no way out for the violence in Iraq except through the withdrawal of the invading forces.”
They also valued the potential role the UN could play in Iraq, condemning “the inhuman treatment of the prisoners and hostages.”
They also called for the support of the newly elected president of Somalia, setting up a fund for rebuilding the war-torn country. They expressed support for the Palestinian people, demanding the US to force Israel to implement the Road Map.
The two ministers reiterated their condemnation for terrorism, demanding a clear definition to this phenomenon through an international conference hosted by the UN. They said that terrorism has tarnished the image of Arabs and Muslims, calling for more cooperation between Muslim countries to avoid such practices that do not serve Islam.
Concerning the Algerian conflict with Morocco over the Great Desert, the Algerian minister denied reports that his country started military threats on the borders with Morocco and that their dispute should be resolved through the UN.
Al-Qirbi pointed out that Yemen's cooperation with Algeria in the fight of terrorism is based on the Arab agreement in this respect. He denied that there are “no Algerian extremists in Yemeni prisons.”
“We used to have Algerian prisoners but their problem is over. The significance of our cooperation in the fight on terrorism lies in the fact that both Yemen and Algeria have suffered from this problem,” he added.
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