Deputy premier meets regional ambassadors

SANA'A, Sep 11 (Saba) - Deputy prime minister for defense affairs
Rashad al-Alimi discussed on Thursday with the ambassadors of the
Gulf and overlooking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries the
issue of sea piracy and its impacts on international navigation.

The meeting dealt with Yemen's efforts to curb this phenomenon and
its negative effects on regional security that lead to the increase
of insurance fees on ships sailing in this important maritime
route.

Al-Alimi stressed the necessity of boosting regional and
international cooperation to fight the maritime piracy as well as
supporting the Yemeni government efforts to curb it and other
illegal acts such as trafficking and illegal immigration.

For his part, deputy Foreign minister Ali Muthana said it is
important that the region countries take part in a conference on
sea piracy to be held in Sana'a next month.

The conference would be held under the patronage of the
International Maritime Organization (IMO).

He touched upon the issue of Somali refugees into the country which
their numbers, according to latest statistics, reached 700.000.

Many refugees from African Horn countries flow into Yemen fleeing
poverty and conflicts.