In brief [Archives:2008/1119/Local News]
– International conference for closing Guantanamo prison launched
The First International Conference for Shutting Down the US-run Guantanamo prison launched on Wednesday in Sana'a with participation of Yemeni, British and US human rights organizations.
Before launching the conference, Minister of Human Rights Huda al-Ban said Yemen's hosting for the conference proves Yemen's commitment to applying human rights principles and its adherence to all international pacts concerning human rights.
Al-Ban denied claims that Yemen didn't accept to receive its Guantanamo-jailed citizens.
During the conference, Yemen would renew its calls for the USA to release the Yemeni detainees in Guantanamo.
– Speaker of Canadian senate to visit Yemen next Thursday
A Canadian Senate delegation headed by the Speaker of the Senate of Canada Noel Kinsella is to begin Thursday an official four-day visit to Yemen.
Kinsella will hold talks with the chairman of Shoura Council Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani on strengthening mutual cooperation between the two councils aiming at serving and developing cooperation relations between the two countries.
The talks would also deal with issues of democracy and human rights.
In remarks to Saba, Abdul- Ghani welcomed the Canadian visitors, considering this visit would take part in enhancing the efforts were achieved by the two councils in both countries.
Abdul- Ghani praised the adherence of Canada to support the Yemeni-Canadian relations and develop them.
– Gulf Group for investment to set-up financial and business city in Yemen
Chairman of the Gulf Group for Investment and Real Estate development in Saudi Arabia Kaleb Bin Hamad al-Saadun announced that the group plans to set-up financial and business city in Yemen.
Upon his arrival on Tuesday at Sana'a, al-Saadun said to Saba that the city is to include banks and stock markets in addition to housing classical complex attaches to the city.
Al-Saadun stressed that he would hold talks with some officials of General Authority of Investment on completing necessary procedures and determining the location of the project.
He made it clear that the delegation is to acquaint closely with available investment opportunities in Yemen and facilities offered to investors on other investment fields, specifically real estate investments in the purpose of setting-up a number of investment projects.
– 113 violations against freedom of expression in 2007
Women Journalist without Borders Organization has affirmed that violations committed against freedom of expression doubled in 2007 compared with the last year.
The annual report of the WJWB said that infringements practiced against press in 2006 were 67 and they are 113 in 2007.
In addition to that, the report said that the Information Ministry refused 68 applications of having authorizations for new newspapers and magazines.
It further noted that correspondents of newspapers and the media were more subjected to violations this year than editors and writers due to widespread protests and sit-ins in various governorates.
– Japanese businessmen to visit Yemen on February
Industry and Trade Minister Yahya al-Mutawakel held talks here on Tuesday with the Japanese ambassador to Yemen Masakazu Toshikage on arrangements for the Japanese
businessmen visit to Yemen next February to get acquainted with the investment opportunities in Yemen and to form commercial partnerships with their counterparts here.
The talks also dealt with the Japanese offer to finance and implement the project of al-Barh Cement Factory expansion as well as the Japanese support for Yemeni efforts to join the Word Trade
Organization (WTO).
During the meeting, the minister pinned his hopes that the coming visit would contribute to reinforce the mutual commercial ties, emphasizing importance of enhancing the commercial exchange rates
and strengthening the investment partnership between private sectors in the two countries.
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