almotamar.net - Speaker of the Belgian parliament Herman Decroo and the First Deputy Chairman of the Belgian Senate asserted that Belgium would stand by Yemen in fighting terror. They said the terrorist act that happened in Hadramout and caused the death of Belgians would not affect the good relations between Yemen and Belgium.

During their meeting with President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Brussels Thursday the two Belgian officials lauded the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

They have also affirmed keenness of their country on enhancing and developing its relations with Yemen in the way contributing to creation of fruitful partnership in the economic and security field and have also praised the efforts that Yemen exerted and the care it had offered to the Belgian citizens who survived the terrorist event.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh on his part asserted that poverty and unemployment represent fertile environment for terror and extremism and said "the rich countries have to help the developing and poor countries to overcome challenges of development and fighting poverty and to create job opportunities for the unemployed."

President Saleh discussed with speaker of the Belgian parliament and deputy chairman of the senate cooperation in security and combating terror in addition to bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between Yemen and Belgium and ways of boosting and developing them as well as development of parliamentary cooperation. President Saleh expressed his condolences for the Belgian people on the killing of the two Belgian tourists in Hadramout at the hands of terrorist elements, affirming the criminals would not be away from punishment by court. The president said terror is a phenomenon many peoples and countries suffer
And international efforts should join for fighting terror and dry up its springs.

President Saleh then toured the halls of the parliament and the senate and listened to explanation on characteristics of the Belgian parliamentary experiment and the tasks the Belgian senate undertakes.

Meanwhile, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union Javier Solana confirmed the EU support for development and democracy in Yemen and his keenness on its relations with Sana'a and pointed out the EU decision of opening a permanent mission in Yemen in order to activate relations and development of cooperation. During his receiving of President Ali Abdullah Saleh Thursday at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels Solana praised the democratic pursuit in Yemen and the role it performs in receiving and caring for the migrants from the Horn of Africa region.

The President discussed with Solana cooperation of Yemen with the EU and developments of situations in the region, particularly the situations I Palestine, Iraq and Somalia in addition to the Iranian nuclear file. He also discussed the efforts for fighting terror in addition to issues of migrants to Yemen from the Horn of Africa region.

Solana asserted to the president the EU stand of supporting the efforts for establishment stability in Iraq and ending the occupation and the support for the process of peace in the region as well as the support for establishment of two Palestinian and Israeli states coexisting in peace.

On his part president Saleh stressed the importance of the role played by the EU in pushing forward the process of just and comprehensive peace in the region and the exercise of pressure on Israel to stop the aggression and end the its blockade against the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip and in the implementation of resolution of the international legitimacy related to the Arab Israeli conflict.

On the other hand the president confirmed the right of Iran to acquire the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, calling for clearing the Middle East region from nuclear weapons.