President Saleh to visit Russia, Austria

SANA'A, Octn 09 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh is to pay visits to the Russian Federation and Austria over next few weeks, Foreign minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said.

The weekly September 26 said quoted al-Qirbi as saying the two visits come at the
invitation of the two countries leaders to president Saleh to deliver a speech at a
forum on the relations between the Muslim countries with European counterparts that
would be organized by the Russian and Austrian governments.

The visits are also as part of presidential visits aimed at promoting relations with
friend countries in areas such as culture, economic, trade and establishing joint
private sector projects.

Al-Qirbi touched upon the situation in Somalia saying stability and peace can't be
brought to the country unless the international community bears its stated
responsibilities.

He said a deal between the Somali transitional government and opposition should be
reached and that there should be international forces comprising African and Islamic
forces to put pressure on the two sides to put their country interest ahead of their
own interests.