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