President Saleh meets Powell

WASHINGTON, June 10 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh met on Thursday the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at the headquarters of US State Department in Washington. In the meeting, aspects of mutual co-operation between Yemen and United States in economic, political fields as well as cooperation in fighting terrorism were discussed. The meeting also pointed out the current development in the regional and international arenas especially in middle East. They also discussed a draft plan for reforms in the region and results of the G-8 summit that was being held in Sea Island, Georgia, United Stats. Powell highlighted level of the Yemeni-American relations and achievements of Yemen in sphere of democracy and political reforms. He appreciated Yemen’s participation in the summit and its efforts in war against terrorism. President Saleh underscored importance of making reforms and development go hand in hand with helping poor countries to realize real development. He also underlined of necessity of achieving peace in the region and implementing the Roadmap and international resolutions dealing with Arab-Israeli conflict. In a press briefing after the meeting, President Saleh said his talks wit Powell touched on bilateral relations and the joint efforts to fight terrorism as well as the political reforms and fighting poverty. He said he was met by understanding from President George W. Bush and his vice president. “We saw understanding in all the issues we discussed the U.S. administration towards the issues we discussed,” he said. President Saleh said he had got promises from Bush and Powell on implementing the Roadmap as an integrated plan for achieving just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. “We assured the U.S. officials that the path to the just and comprehensive peace in the region is based on the establishment of the Palestinian state,” he said.- AH/KM SABA