Security and economic development were the main topics of discussion at a meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council in Riyadh on Saturday. The meeting was jointly chaired by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General and Dr. Ali Muhammad Mujawwar, the Yemeni Prime Minister. It was the 19th session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council which took place at the Crown Prince's Palace. Addressing the session, the Crown Prince said the council meeting coincided with the meeting of the donors in Riyadh, which was another part of the Kingdom's efforts to ensure Yemen's continued development and security. He expressed his satisfaction at what has been achieved throughout the 35 years of the council's existence. He stressed the bonds between the two countries including their common faith, good neighborliness and kinship. He stressed that all these commonalities made it important to redouble efforts to promote development in both countries. He emphasized that one of the major mutual goals is comprehensive security for both countries. A number of agreements and executive programs were signed at the meeting, including an agreement on cooperation in tourism signed by Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and Abdul Hafez Nagi Al-Sama, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers from the Yemeni side. Other agreements include: a financial grant agreement of SR150 million for water and sanitary drainage for urban towns; a SR187.5 million deal for the 5th Energy Project in the Republic of Yemen; SR75 million for financing a hospital project in Hudadah and SR18 million grant for equipping workshops and laboratories at the faculties of engineering and education in Taz. This was signed by Dr Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Saudi Development Fund and Abdul Kareem Bin Ismail Al-Arhabi, Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Apart from this, a memo of understanding on health was signed by Dr. Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health and Noman Taher Al-Sehabi, the Yemeni Minister of Finance. The Crown Prince expressed his regret at the events that took place in Yemen, which had extended to the Kingdom's southern borders: “I swear that King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, did not wish for a single drop of blood to be shed… But as the King said the Kingdom will never be lenient with anyone who tampers with the Kingdom's stability and security.” Crown Prince Sultan prayed for Allah to protect the two countries' people from alien destructive thoughts which have nothing to do with Islam. He also prayed for Allah to enlighten and guide them onto the right path, so that they are not used as tools of destruction. He said the agreements and accords which would be signed at the session included health, education, tourism and social insurance. He said the council meeting coincided with the meeting of the donors in Riyadh, which was another part of the Kingdom's efforts to ensure Yemen's continued development and security. In his speech, the Yemeni Premier welcomed the Kingdom's efforts over the last few years to support stability and development. He also stressed the great achievements made within bilateral, economic, commercial, educational, cultural and security agreements. Mujawwar said: “The size of the economic challenges Yemen has faced over the past five decades is well-known, particularly over the past two years. This is because of socio-economic changes and the emergence of the increasing danger of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and its change [in focus to become] a regional organization threatening security and social peace in the region. This is besides the Houthi rebellion in Sa'da and the rise of calls for secession, which have added more burdens to the country. This has impacted negatively on the investment climate and overall economic growth.”
