Sarkozy to visit Yemen next year

SANA'A, July 16 (Saba) -President of France Nicolas Sarkozy is set
to visit Yemen next year as the country will start exporting
natural gas from the Belhaf project run by the French Petroleum
Company of Total, the French ambassador to Yemen Gilles Gauthier
said.

The GPC-run almotamar.net quoted Gauthier as saying at a ceremony
held on the National Day of France at the French embassy in Sana'a
the European countries and the European Union will step up their
support for Yemen.

He said the European countries support Yemen's accession into the
Gulf Cooperation Council, pointing out that Yemen is an integral
part of the Arab peninsula.

Gauthier said the stability of Yemen is necessary for its people and
the region and this stability could not happen without development,
calling for more support from rich countries particularly the
European countries.

Gauthier made remarks at the party that highlighted the difficult
situation Yemen is experiencing with the soaring food prices,
terrorist acts and the Houthi rebellion.

He noted that Yemen will witness a new democratic step with the 2009
parliamentary elections, praising the strides Yemen has made in
various fields and the government efforts to forge Yemen relations
and cooperation with the world countries.

The ambassador appreciated the Total role in Yemen, saying the
company big investments in the country are evidence of its trust
with this state promising future.