President Saleh, Italian counterpart discuss variety of issues

ROME, Nov 25 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh, currently in a visit to the Italian capital Rome, held a session of talks Thursday with the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on a variety of issues including economic partnership. They also discussed issues of Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and the fight against terrorism. Speaking to reporters after the session, President Saleh lauded the Italian support to economic reforms in Yemen and said Yemen was committed to its longstanding cooperation with Italy in various areas of bilateral advantage.He hoped that Italy would push on its part for the implementation of the Roadmap to peace plan which creates a viable Palestinian state to be side by side with Israel. Saleh said that in the session of talks, Yemen and Italy showed identical viewpoints toward the establishment of an independent democratic Iraqi state through elections. As for Somalia, the President said “Yemen will be cooperative with Italy and other European countries and international community members in restoring security and stability of Somalia.” “Without a stable Somali state, Somalia will be a hotbed for terrorism,”Saleh warned, complaining that the increasing flux of Somali refugees to Yemen is “a perpetual pressure on the already suffering economy of Yemen.” Shifting focus to local, Saleh said Yemen has achieved “tangible successes in staving off sleeping and active terror cells” and recalled that its political system rests with participatory politics, press freedom and human rights. For his part, the Italian President said President Saleh’s visit to his country ushers in a promising future for the bilateral relations citing the intention to sign agreements on counterterrorism as a sign of howstrong the bilateral relations are. Ciampi contended that no democracy or development in the Middle East region would thrive unless challenges to peaceful coexistence (of countries)are overcome first.” He said the International Ministerial Meeting of the Neighboring Countries of Iraq, which concluded in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on Tuesday highlightedan Arab and Islamic resolve to enhance stability in Iraq. AA/KM SABA