President Saleh meets UN’s official

SANA’A,Jan.24(Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh met here on Monday with the UN Secretary General Assistant and Director-General of the United Nations Development Prgoramme (UNDP) Helen Clark. At the meeting, Saleh and Clark discussed aspects of cooperation between Yemen and the UNDP in the developmental and humanitarian areas. Clark briefed Saleh on the content of the two agreements that were signed during her visit to Yemen, which aimed to support Yemen’s efforts in the development plans in light of the five-year plan for economic development. According to the two agreements, the UNDP will provide aid amounting to USD 400 million during 2011-2015. In addition, the UN official briefed Saleh on results of her meetings with Yemeni official, and what was discussed regarding the required support from the UNDP to assist Yemen in the completion of the development plans. She confirmed the UNDP’s support for Yemen to harmonize with the programs and goals of the fourth five-year plan for poverty alleviation. In this regard, Clark reiterated the UNDP’s commitment to support Yemen to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), wishing success for the upcoming meeting of the Group of Yemen Friends to be held in Riyadh. She also affirmed the UNDP’s support to the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum and its efforts for holding fair, transparent and successful elections. For his part, President Saleh expressed Yemen’s thanks and appreciation to the UNDP for aid and support provided to Yemen in the developmental and humanitarian fields. He hoped that Helen’s visit and her talks with Yemeni officials would be successful and lead to further cooperation between Yemen and the programme, so as to alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment. BA Saba