26 Septemper News - The director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Mr. Randall Tobias emphasized that Washington is ready to support Yemen in facing the challenges of development. He said that the American government will participate by a high-level delegation in the donors conference for Yemen.

This is coming during talks of Abdul Karim Ismail Al-Arhabi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation in Washington with a number of American officials on the ongoing preparations for the donor conference and the bilateral ties of cooperation.

In a meeting, Mr. Randall Tobias congratulates Yemen on the great democratic achievement embodied in the presidential and local elections. He also praised the remarkable development in the process of reforms.

Besides, Minister Alarhabi holds talks on Friday with Daniela Grasani, vice-president of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa. They discussed the ongoing preparations for holding the donors conference in mid-November and the topics on the agenda, as well as the World Bank's role to achieve the desired results from the conference.
.
They also discuss agenda of the meeting especially subject of the ties between Yemen and bilateral relations between Gulf cooperation Council and reform agenda as well steps taken to reduce poverty in the country.

Meanwhile, al-Arhabi discussed with deputy director of International Monetary Fund the arrangements of the meeting and role of the fund in bring the meeting into success.

Al-Arhabi extended an invitation to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to attend the meeting.

On the other hand, the American Democratic Institute and International Foundation for Election Systems IFES held receptive ceremony for the minister.

In the ceremony, al-Arhabi delivered a speech in which he pointed out the latest political and economic developments in Yemen.