Yemen's President Underlines Eagerness to Expand All-Out Ties with Iran

Source: FNA, 24/12/2010

TEHRAN- Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih stressed his country's enthusiasm for the development of relations with Tehran in all fields, specially in economic and cultural arenas.


He made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian president's special Envoy Hamid Baqayee on Wednesday, expressing his serious will for expansion of economic, social and cultural relations with Iran.

Pointing out that negative propagations have created serious obstacles in the way of the two nations and the two countries' relations, reiterating, "Very excellent relations between the two nations and the two countries should exist, since inappropriate relations among the regional countries is to the benefit of no one, and Iran and Yemen are no exceptions to that rule."

The Yemeni president said that Sana'a has always defended Iran's right to have access to the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes at entire international gatherings and would always keep on doing so.

Pointing out that Yemen's stand towards Tehran is clear and transparent, the Yemeni leader expressed wish that Tehran's stand, too, would reciprocally be as clear and as transparent, adding, "We believe Iran is a very proud country that has achieved broad and noticeable advancements, believing that this might and power should be taken advantage of in favor of strengthening the foundations of peace and security among the neighboring and Muslim countries."

President Ali Abdallah Salih considered regional security very important for the region, arguing, "Generating, or supporting regional insecurity is to no one's benefit, and therefore, we are fully ready to host the IRI president, because Mr. Ahmadinejad's visit of Yemen can be a very important step for the expansion of bilateral ties."

The Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Baqayee assured President Salih that the entire expressed precious points would be conveyed to the IRI president.

"Iran is not a threat for any of the regional countries and the existing negative propagations are the product of the international Zionism that is never agreed with the improvement of relations among Muslim countries, or with their getting strong," he emphasized.


He announced Tehran's readiness for taking practical and seriously steps aimed at solving the entire existing problems and obstacles in favor of the restoration of friendly ties, announcing and assuring that Iran truly respects Yemen's political and territorial integrity and sovereignty.


"Negative remarks and media propagations in this respect should be totally ignored, and naturally such obstacles can be easily removed relying on the wisdom and sagaciousness of Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh and Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," Baqayee added.


Pointing out that expansion of friendly ties with every country, particularly the neighbors, is a priority in Tehran's foreign policy, he added, "The old, good bilateral relations must continue with a positive approach at a broader level in the future."

Baqayee also conveyed a message by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to his Yemeni counterpart.