Saleh discussed with Blair the file of terrorism, Red Sea security

Yemen's foreign minister Abu Baker al-Qurabi said in a statements that the visit of the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to London is of a special importance due to the historical relations between Yemen and Britain, noting that relations between Sanaa and London have witnessed notable progress in the last ten years.

President Saleh discussed with the British prime minister Tony Blair and the British officials fields of cooperation in the efforts to fighting terrorism and increasing developmental support to Yemen, developments in Palestine and Iraq. He added that the Yemeni- British relations will deal with the situation in Iraq and Palestine and continued Israeli settlement and building the wall of separation. He said that Yemen will confirm the importance of the due role to be played by the UK in the context of the Quartet and at the UN Security Council in order to "issue resolutions halting the Israeli practices against the Palestinian people."

Al- Qurabi stressed that Sanaa is careful to know the way London views the security and stability of the African horn and the southern part of the Red Sea and the extent of its readiness to give more support for the Yemeni coast guards to protect the vital international trade passage. He disclosed that Britain allocated a sum of 20 million Sterling pound for the field of education in Yemen along the five coming years.