YEMEN DENIES GIVING FACILITIES TO U.S. ON ISLAND

SANA'A, Feb. 23 (Saba) - Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi has
denied that Yemen had signed an agreement on giving facilities to
the U.S. on Socotra Archipelago.

The January 27 Conference affirmed Yemen's sovereignty, he said,
adding that those assuming that Yemen has become under international
guardianship are just seeking to harm Yemen's interest and
government through spreading misinformation and misinterpretation.

Also, statements by the U.S. security systems over Yemen and the
fight on terror meant to clear their state from possible terrorist
acts and show the U.S. people that, he said.

'The U.S. should act in the way it serves its interest and others'
interest.'

In an interview with the ruling party mouthpiece newspaper Al-Mithaq
published on Monday, the minister also said that Al-Qaeda can't meet
their goal and take control of the Bab Al-Mandan strait. However, he
admitted that the organization poses a real threat to merchant ships
passing in the region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yemen is questioning some
ambassadors over abusing their powers, said Al-Qirbi. We had already
convened some ambassadors abroad and talked to them……only for the
sake of reform but not to mislead the public opinion, he confirmed.

On the other hand, Al-Qirbi said that Germany had made a request to
host a meeting of the Friends of Yemen Group in March or April.

He also touched upon the upcoming Riyadh Conference saying that the
government will present during it a vision highlighting the
difficulties facing it regarding absorbing donor funds as well as
donor allocations during the 2006 London Conference.

FR