Global Arab Network | Yemen, UK and Saudi Arabia announce first ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen

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Yemen, UK and Saudi Arabia announce first ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen

- Adam Turner

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 23:15

Yemen, UK and Saudi Arabia announce first ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen

Yemen, Saudi Arabia and UK announce Friends of Yemen Foreign Ministers meeting in New York on 24 September.

Global Arab Network received a joint statement announcing that Yemen, Saudi Arabia and UK governments reaffirmed their commitment to the Friends of Yemen process, and outlined the priorities for the New York meeting. Key among these will be how to ensure continued economic development in Yemen – particularly through a recently agreed IMF programme - and how to support the National Dialogue process in the run up to elections in 2011.

Following the announcement, Alistair Burt, FCO Minister for the Middle East said:

“The UK is committed to working closely with Yemen and its neighbours, and I am delighted that the Yemeni, Saudi Arabian and UK Governments have been able to announce jointly this Ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen. This is a new step forward in the coordinated international support for Yemen’s efforts to promote development and counter terrorism.
Yemen faces many challenges. It is important for the people of Yemen, but also for the UK and the rest of international community, that social and economic progress is achieved to bring about the development and increased security that they need and deserve.”

The joint statement between the Yemeni, UK and Saudi Arabian Government said:

The Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and Yemen have agreed to hold a ministerial meeting between the Yemeni Government and Friends of Yemen on Friday 24 September in New York. The meeting will review progress since the high-level meeting in London in January, give strong direction to future work of the Friends of Yemen, and give new momentum and support to key areas of reform, not least in the light of approval of the IMF programme. The meeting will prepare the ground for a ministerial meeting in Riyadh in December 2010 or January 2011.

The British, Saudi and Yemeni Governments agree that the meeting should receive reports from the Friends of Yemen Working Groups on Economy & Governance and Justice & the Rule of Law and should focus in particular on the following areas:

·    Political: Support for the political process through a comprehensive national dialogue, leading to free and fair multi-party parliamentary elections in Spring 2011.

·    Economic: International support for, and measures towards the implementation of the IMF programme and associated economic and governance reforms. Progress towards increased access for Yemeni workers to appropriate international labour markets

·    Development: Progress towards better coordinated and more effective international donor support for Yemen based on the outcome of the GCC meeting in Riyadh in February. The meeting will review new mechanisms for longer term international funding for Yemen's development needs, consistent with Yemeni priorities and progress on reforms

·    Security: Progress since the London meeting on the commitment to support the integrity of Yemen's borders, including its maritime security.

·    International action to support Yemen's cross-Government efforts to tackle extremism and radicalisation.

The meeting will also approve a date for a Riyadh ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen, following a Consultative Group meeting to launch Yemen’s new Development Plan for Poverty Reduction (DPPR). The DPPR will prioritise Yemen’s development needs and enable donors to align their support, establish financial and technical commitments, and review the implementation of development programmes and economic assistance.

The Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and Yemen will jointly chair the meeting.

Global Arab Network

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