SANA’A, May 29 (Saba)- Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi described what is happening in southern governorates like demonstrations is a paid work.
“Movement leaders are making use of the economic situation and the millions of dollars they took from the 1994 civil war to spend on the demonstrations,” he said.
In an interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Minister al-Qirbi stressed that some people work with the movement to gain money only not for the desire of the separation.
He talked about Yemen’s relations with countries of Gulf Cooperation Council and described them as positive. He noted that Sana’a looks for a new chart to the Arab League instead of maintaining the old one for the interest of joint Arab work.
He said President Ali Abdullah Saleh has communicated with Arab leaders about Yemen’s attitude with them over the country’s diplomacy. “President’s communication with Arab leaders and his speeches he is directing to the international community affirm Yemen’s ability to present initiatives and solutions to solve internal issues.”
He said that the president’s speech in the eve of the celebration of the re-unification ceremony and his call to dialogue and discussing all issues reflect political readiness to solve all problems accompanied the unity, besides his readiness to form coalition government.
Over Yemen’s relations with Iran, al-Qirbi said they are normal and there is still contact between the two countries as their embassies are still open.
On Arab assistances to Yemen to overcome its current crisis, he talked about the need of creating work mechanism helps in realizing balanced economic growth in the region. He talked about importance of utilizing Arab funds to enhance Arab joint interests and investments.
“If the 20 percent of Arab funds transferred to outside employed in Arab countries, they would contribute in solving security and economic situations these countries suffer from.”
However al-Qirbi said that Yemen’s integration with GCC economies will not be the solution to Yemen’s crises but the solution lies in these countries’ vision towards Yemen and the importance of standing with the country to face its security and economic challenges.
He explained that providing support Yemen needs to achieve development and create work opportunities as well as open the doors to Yemeni laborers to work in Gulf markets is more important step before integration.
He praised GCC support to Yemen in London Conference held in 2006 saying:” GCC countries provided nearly 65 percent of the total support committed by donors in the conference.” This support is estimated at USD 2, 7 billion reflects there is new vision to GCC countries to create partnership with Yemen.
Foreign Minister Abu Baker al-Qirbi affirmed that Yemen does not want crises because these crises have their high costs. Southern movement and al-Qaeda affected Yemen’s economy which is already has been affected by global financial crises and the reduction of oil production and prices.
Over military training Israel and Iran are currently carrying out and expectations of a hot summer, al-Qirbi said indicators do not bring good news and “I think that Israel wants to punish Hezbollah. Last year reports say that Israel plan to hit Hezbollah and I believe that if Israel risks a new war, it will face the same fate it faced in 2006.”
Over Arab-Iran dialogue for the interests of Arabs as Yemen has been already affected by Iranian support to Houthis, Minister al-Qirbi said starting a dialogue between Arabs and Iran will serve the interests of both to define the two parts relations to discuss solving issues between Arabs and Iran like Iranian interference in the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.
