President Saleh arrives in Madrid

MADRID, Jan. 28 (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Monday on his three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Spain in response of an invitation presented to him from Spanish King Juan Carlos. President was received by a number of Spanish civil and military officials, Yemeni ambassador to Spain Abdul Rahman Kamarani and Spanish ambassador to Sana’a Marcos Vega. It is expected that during his visit, Saleh would sign a number of agreements and memos of understandings in security, health, tourism, technical education, vocational training and investment fields. Upon his arrival, president Saleh expressed happiness to visit Spain, saying that the visit is a chance to discuss with the Spanish officials means of enhancing mutual cooperation between Yemen and Spain. He made clear that a number of agreements will be signed to serve common interests of both countries. Current regional and international developments, especially wild massacres committed by Israeli occupation against Palestinian people in Gaza in addition to the present situation in Iraq and Somali as well as Yemeni efforts in fighting terror would be discussed, president Saleh said. He also affirmed the European important role in pressuring on Israeli to stop its violence and its unfair siege on the Palestinian people and to response to the resolutions of the international legislation to realize peace in the region. The president said that his visits to Spain and Belgium are a chance to invite businessmen in these countries to invest in Yemen in various fields such as oil, gas, tourism, fisheries wealth and the Free Aden Zone. He concluded his statement by saying that he is confident that his visit would contribute in enhancing mutual cooperation between Yemen, Spain and all European countries. NN/AH/AM Saba