Almotamar.net, Saba - A session of closed-door talks was held in Sana’a Monday evening between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the visiting President of Turkey Abdullah Gul.
During the meeting the two leaders discussed the close brotherly relations connecting Yemen and Turkey and the two peoples and the ways guaranteeing development and expansion of bilateral relations in various areas in the manner meeting aspirations of the two countries and peoples at the top of which economic cooperation , increasing trade-exchange and encouraging investments as well as developing the defence and security cooperation particularly in areas of training, military industrialization besides coordination of efforts of the two countries in combating terror and piracy.

There was also discussion of the issues and developments of common interest in the region, mainly the developments in the occupied Palestinian territories especially under continuation of carrying out the Israeli lots of expanding and building the settlements besides continuation in imposing the tyrannous Israeli blockade on Gaza Strip and what results of it of suffering and difficult humanitarian situations the Palestinians live in the Strip.

The two leaders discussed ways of coordinating efforts and stands of the two countries for serving issues of the Islamic nation and activation of the joint Islamic action in the way enabling the nation to face the impending challenges and dangers.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh and President Abdullah Gul have emphasised their keenness on strengthening and enhancing the historical fraternal relations between the two countries and peoples and developing and expanding aspects of integration and partnership between Yemen and Turkey especially in the economic, trade and investment areas in the way translating hopes and aspirations of the two peoples and developing their common interests.

The two leaders have also affirmed encouragement of businessmen and investors in the two countries to play an essential role for pushing forward the economic and trade relations between Yemen and Turkey towards spacious horizons of development and partnership and building joint investment projects in the manner realizing the common interests of the two sides.

After that the large meeting of official talks between the Yemeni republic and the Turkish republic co-chaired by Presidents Ali Abdullah Saleh and Abdullah Gul.

The discussions reviewed the level of the implementation of agreements and memos of understanding signed by the two countries as well as ways to stimulate the economic and trade cooperation and investment between the two countries.

In addition, the two sides' official talks dealt with the prospects for developing cooperation in the military and security fields, including the areas of rehabilitating and training police and coastguard personnel, as well as means to coordinate the efforts of the two countries in combating terrorism and piracy.

They also discussed the prospects for enhancing cooperation in the industrial sector through the establishment of industrial zones in the two Yemeni provinces of Aden and Hodeidah, the promotion of tourism investment and construction sector and the establishment of a Gas-based power plant with a capacity of 10000 megawatts (MW) and a Turkish hospital in Yemen.

The two sides stressed the need to activate the agreements and memos of understanding signed between the two countries.

At the beginning of the official talks session, President Saleh welcomed Turkish President Gul and his accompanying delegation, wishing them a pleasant stay in Yemen.

Saleh described the Yemeni-Turkish relations as historical ties, welcoming Turkish investments in Yemen and the establishment of a Yemeni-Turkish partnership in the field of defense supplies manufacturing.

"Four years ago, media made a false image of the situations in Yemen. In fact, the situation is stable and Yemen was able to overcome several challenges….the terrorist and economic challenges", said Saleh, praising Turkey's support for Yemen's unity, security and stability.

For his part, the Turkish President renewed his country's support for Yemen's security and stability, stressing that the security and stability of Yemen are not only a Yemeni matter, but they are the matter of the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, Africa and the world.

In his speech delivered at the official talks session, President Gul expressed the desire of Turkish businessmen and investors to invest in Yemen.

He pointed out that his accompanying delegation includes a large number of Turkish businessmen, ministers, parliamentarians and academics, underlining Turkey's keenness and interest to develop its cooperation relations with Yemen.

"We in Turkey have great desire and willingness to develop relations with Yemen", said Gul.

On democracy in Yemen, Gul said "Yemen is the only country in the region that has a multi-party system".

The Turkish President also affirmed his country's support for Yemen in an upcoming meeting of the Friends of Yemen to be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh.