Almotamar.net - President Ali Abdullah Saleh emphasized the importance of the role the United States of America can play for pushing forward the peace process in the Middle East region.

During his reception of the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at this residency in Washington on Wednesday, the president pointed out that the Arabs have reiterated their adherence to peace option through their sticking to the Arab initiative as it is a realistic choice for the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the region. The president made it clear that Israel's acceptance of this initiative would enhance opportunities for achievement of peace and efforts of fighting terror and establishment of security and stability in the region.

President Saleh also stressed that just and comprehensive peace will not be realized but with the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with its capital Al-Quds, guarantee of Palestinian refugees return and implementation of the international legitimacy related to the Arab Israeli conflict.

The president also referred to the development of the Yemeni-American relations, confirming keenness on developing and consolidating bilateral cooperation in various fields.

On her part the US Secretary of State Rice praised the steady growth of the Yemeni-American relations and the existing partnership between the two friendly countries. Ms Rice also evaluated highly the successes Yemen has achieved and its efforts exerted with regard to democracy, reforms and combating terror. She affirmed that Yemen is an active partner of the US and the international community in the war against terror, expressing the US keenness to support Yemen in the threats it is confronting especially the terrorist one whether from al-Qaeda organisation or others.

The US Secretary of State affirmed the United States support for efforts of reforms and democracy in Yemen, considering success of the latest presidential and local elections in Yemen have received attention and appreciation Yemen's friends in the whole world.

The meeting has discussed bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between Yemen and the US at political, economic, security and fighting terror levels and ways of strengthening them in addition to reviewing of reform efforts Yemen is carrying out at various political, economic, financial, administrative and judicial levels.

The two sides also discussed regional and international developments of common interest especially in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan in addition to the Iranian nuclear file. They have also discussed ways and means of enhancing the efforts for achievement of peace in the region in the light of the Arab initiative presented by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia approved by the Arab summit in Beirut and confirmed in the recent Arab summit in Riyadh.

Saleh-Rice meeting was attended by the Yemeni delegation accompanying the president and Yemen's ambassador to Washington and for the American side by US Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East Affairs and the American ambassador to Sana'a.

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