The relations between the Kingdom and Yemen have always been based on mutual respect and bilateral good neighborliness. The two countries share a common border and have strong historical, cultural and economic ties. The Kingdom was the first country to support Yemen and provide it with substantial financial aid for its development and the improvement of the standard of living of its people. The Kingdom adopts a wise political position regarding the situation in Yemen and is very keen that Yemen's best interests should be safeguarded and that it should remain a stable neighbor. The Kingdom does not take sides with any particular party in Yemen as some people have falsely claimed. Indeed, the Kingdom last year played a prominent role in having the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative accepted as a blueprint for a political resolution of the crisis in Yemen, and the initiative was signed by all parties in Riyadh. After the signing ceremony, King Abdullah declared the “turning of a new page in the history of Yemen”. The visit to the Kingdom of Muhammad Salem Basindwa, Yemen's Prime Minister, and his accompanying delegation and their meeting with King Abdullah underlines the importance of the political, economic and security relations between Yemen and the Kingdom. This visit seeks to procure the support of the Kingdom for a national unity government in Yemen during this important juncture in that country's history. It is a visit which aims to find a viable solution to end the political crisis in Yemen and to find the means to establish a common dialogue between the warring factions so that they can build one unified country which is based on a national partnership. This visit shows the Kingdom's keenness to provide its neighbor with political, economic and developmental support in order to find a way out of the crisis that has created unrest and disorder. __
