President Saleh accents Russian role in peacemaking in region

MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh asserted on
Wednesday the significance of the Russian role to push peacemaking
efforts forward in the region.

During his meeting in his residence at "Kremlin" with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Saleh voiced Yemen's
welcome to hold the international conference for peace in Moscow.

Saleh affirmed Yemen's keenness on enhancing its relations with
Russia, praising the high-level of current relation between the two
friendly countries.

Lavrov hailed the Yemen's efforts in combating terrorism and piracy,
accenting the Russian willingness to improve the joint cooperation
with Yemen in various areas. He stressed that the current visit
would reinforce the mutual relations between the two countries.

The Russian official renewed his country's support for the Arab
peace initiative, considering it as the base for the international
conference for peace to be held in Moscow next year.

The meeting discussed the last regional and International
developments, topped by the situation in Palestine in the light of
the underway arrangements for holding the international conference
for reconstruction Gaza, where Yemen and Russia will take part in.

The bilateral relations and joint cooperation areas were also
discussed during the meeting.

AF/AF