Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers affirmed their support for Yemen's unity and the Yemeni government's efforts for dialogue to ensure the country's stability and territorial integrity. This came after a meeting of the GCC foreign ministers and Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Qirbi here Monday. The meeting urged the Joint Technical Committee to intensify its efforts to accelerate the implementation of projects and programs in accordance with the specified time. The meeting decided to give priority to programs designed to qualify Yemeni laborers by increasing funding programs for technical education and training. It said the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs of the GCC would study the appropriate mechanisms to increase the participation of Yemeni workers in the GCC labor market. The ministers also called for developing mechanism to promote GCC private sector investment in Yemen, and urged Yemeni and GCC Chambers of Commerce and Federation of GCC Chambers to promote partnership between businessmen of the two sides. The foreign ministers expressed their satisfaction on the progress achieved in the areas of cooperation between the two sides, especially the decision of the Supreme Council at Muscat Summit in December 2008 on the accession of Yemen to four GCC organizations, namely GCC Standards Commission, Gulf Organization for Industrial Consultation, GCC Accounting and Auditing Commission, and Gulf Television Body. Yemen is already a member of four Gulf organizations: Arab Education Bureau for Arab Gulf States, GCC Council of Health Ministers, Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs and Gulf Cup Tournament. The foreign ministers commended the steps undertaken by the Yemeni government in implementing economic reforms, improving investment environment and achieving the objectives of economic and social development. Meanwhile, two people died and four were wounded in clashes Monday between security forces and protesters in south Yemen. The deaths bring the toll to 11 civilians and 11 soldiers killed in such clashes in the south since early May. The clashes in Radfan in Lahej province, which took place as mourners gathered to bury six people.
