No US military presence in Yemen: Saleh

SANA'A, March 19 (Saba) - President Ali
Abdullah Saleh has denied some media reports alleging a US military presence in
Yemen.
"Those reports are unfounded and there is no any US presence on the ground of Yemen
and there is no any treaty or agreement allowing the US presence on our territory,
but
there is Yemeni-US security cooperation in the field of counterterrorism within the
framework of international partnership in this regard", Saleh confirmed.
In an interview with pan-Arab Al Arabiya Satellite News Channel, President Saleh
said that the security cooperation between Yemen and the US is limited to the
exchange of
information and the sending of US experts to train Yemeni anti-terrorism troops.
"There are no more than 50 experts contributing to the training of the Yemeni
anti-terrorism forces", said Saleh.
President affirmed that the Yemeni unity existed to last and will remain solid
without fears for it from the bids of separatists who did not learn from the past
lessons.
"Any giant national project may face difficulties…..but there should not be fears
for Yemen's unity", President Saleh said.
However, he said that fears remain of troubles hampering the development path and
that are seeking to reinforce hatred culture and separation attempts.
We faced the separatists, the Houthi group and the secessionist movement…we worked
together because we have a giant national project, compared with their tiny and
failed
ones, Saleh added.
He made clear that the call for a comprehensive dialogue in Yemen was also aimed at
the patriot people and the people who have legal demands but not with separatists.
We never talk with separatists who betrayed their country, he said, our talk,
however, should be with those who can understand their country's issues and those
seeking the
development of Yemen.
The call fundamentally aims at addressing our problems within the roof on unity and
constitution and through the local governments across the republic, he said.
Touching upon the war in Saada that ended last month, President Saleh said that the
war in the far north has ended forever.
After the Houthi group accepted the ceasefire terms, we realized that there would
not be more wars with the group.
The ceasefire committees are assuming their responsibilities well and there are
positive indicators the group is cooperating and other local committees are
contributing
to establishing peace in the region according to the agreed mechanism, he added.
FR