Russia praises Yemeni effort to combat terrorism, sea piracy

MOSCOW, April 29 (Saba) – The Russian Federation praised on Wednesday the Yemeni naval forces for releasing four Yemeni vessels attacked by pirates last Monday and seizing Somali pirates involved in the piracy process. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East and North Africa Affairs expressed, during his meeting with Yemeni ambassador to Moscow Mohamed al Hilali, his appreciation for the role played by Yemen to fight terrorism, sea piracy and exerted efforts to ensure safety of international navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Both sides agreed to form a joint ministerial committee between the two countries, affirming their keenness to develop the current relations between both countries Both sides discussed aspects of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, energy, dams, water and other areas of cultural and scientific, economic, political, technical and military fields in the light of the fruitful results of the recent visit of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to the Russian Federation. SA/AM Saba