Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh met here on Saturday with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East-American Partnership Affairs Scott Carpenter. In the meeting, they discussed the ongoing preparations for holding Future Forum in Yemen next December. Carpenter said that holding the Future Forum in Yemen reflects the advanced measures made by the country in terms of democracy, press freedom, administrative reforms, women participation, counterterrorism and fighting corruption. Carpenter praised the advanced relations between the two countries, affirming the United States' keenness to enhance such relations. The results of President Saleh's latest visit to Washington and his talks with President Bush and other US officials have been fruitful, said Carpenter in a statement to Yemen's news agency "Saba." "In talks, President Bush has confirmed his commitment to support Yemen in economic and military fields", said Carpenter. President Saleh discussed also with Carpenter issues of common interest and terms of joint cooperation between the two countries in addition to the latest regional developments, particularly the current situations in Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and the Iranian nuclear crisis.
