President leaves for Khartoum

SANA'A, Dec. 29 (Saba)-President Ali Abdullah Saleh left on Monday evening for
Khartoum capital of Sudan to participate in the sixth summit of Sana'a Forum for
Cooperation that will be started on Tuesday.

Upon departure, the president told Saba that "there are a number of issues and
topics in the agenda of the summit to reinforce the process of cooperation and
coordination among the Forum member states in the different areas."

He added that "this summit will be held under important and accelerating regional
and international conditions such as what is happening in Palestine by the Israeli
occupation forces, particularly the blockade and genocide in Gaza under Arab and
international silence."

He affirmed that development of situations of the African Horn region, such as
piracy, requires the Forum states to study them seriously and call all regional
parties and the international community to do their responsibility in this regard to
settle peace and security in the region, specially Somalia.

Saleh also expressed hope that the summit comes out with the expected results to
meet all aspirations to benefit the Forum nations.

The summit will gather leaders of the four member states, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan,
Yemen, and Djibouti which will attend for the first time.

The forum will discuss in Khartoum summit implementation of earlier agreements,
Somalia and Darfur crisis as well as future plan of the forum for 2009-2013.

The leaders of the forum will discuss political and security files associated with
enhancing regional security and stability especially combating of piracy and
terrorism.

They also will discuss regional development of common concern especially current
situation in Somalia and efforts of settling peace and security in the African
country.

Founded in 2002 in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, the forum is aimed at enhancing
security, political and economic cooperation in the volatile region.

AH/AM