Saudi Arabia And Yemen 

Sign Agreements For Closer Cooperation In A Wide Range Of Fields

The 14th session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council ended two days of deliberations in Jeddah on June 16 by concluding a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding to strengthen relations between the two countries. Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz attended the ceremony for signing of a number of agreements in the fields of culture, youth and sports.

The accords also provide for closer postal cooperation and technical cooperation between the Saudi Arabian Standards and Specifications Organization (SASO) and the Yemeni authority for specifications, standardization and quality control. Other agreements were signed to facilitate overland transport of passengers and goods, and to provide loans to finance Yemeni projects for a technological institute and vocational training centers, as well as civil engineering services.

The two countries also signed memoranda of understanding for cooperation and coordination between their foreign ministries, and between Saudi Arabia’s National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) and the Yemeni Council for Environmental Protection.

At the conclusion of its deliberations, the Council issued a statement commenting on the concern of the two countries to strengthen cooperation in all fields, and welcoming the decision of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Yemen’s joining the GCC ministerial councils for health, education, and labor and social affairs, as well as the GCC soccer tournament.

The statement said Saudi Arabia and Yemen hold identical views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people while condemning the massacres committed by Israeli forces against women, children and the elderly.

The statement expressed appreciation for the continued efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including his visit to the United States and his discussions with U.S. President George W. Bush and senior officials. The statement expressed the hope that the United States will put forth a general framework for a final resolution of the Middle East issue, in accordance with President Bush’s vision, the Arab peace initiative based on United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Madrid conference and the principle of land for peace.

The statement also stressed the two countries’ determination to firmly continue fighting terrorism in all its forms, and renewed their call for having the Middle East region free of all weapons of mass destruction. In this context, the statement demanded that the international community exert pressure on Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and place its nuclear facilities under international supervision. 

Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Prince Sultan said the two countries are working on other agreements that, among other things provide for avoidance of duplicate taxation, protection of investments, customs cooperation and the setting up of free trade zones. He added that the Kingdom is committed to helping fund Yemeni development projects.