Abdulmalik al-Fahidi almotamar.net - It is scheduled that the External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner to begin a 2-day official visit to Yemen Saturday. She is leading a delegation from the European Union t conduct talks with Yemeni officials on many issues related to relations between Yemen and the European Union in addition to Middle East and the region issues.

It is the first visit to Yemen at this level by a European official and the Yemeni foreign minister Dr Abu Bakr al Qirbi considered that a clear proof that the Europeans have found credibility on part of Yemen in carrying out reforms particularly with regard to presidential and local elections.

In his statement to almotamar.net the foreign minister said the Europeans are convinced that democracy in Yemen is not just a d�cor, as some would like to describe. He added the Europeans are interested in that Yemen comes out of its weak economic situation towards an economic development with which it can face challenges and strengthen its role in the region.

Dr al-Qirbi went on to say the European commission delegation visit aims at enhancing its relations with Yemen and to see the many achievements done in the past year and a half in the areas reforms included in the election platform of president of the republic and the government has begun implementing them.

The European External Relations Commissioner affirmed in statements yesterday that the European Union is interested establishing strong partnership with Yemen, describing it as the important partner to Europe. She pointed out that the European support for Yemen will focus on good administration, activation the private sector, fighting poverty and helping the Yemeni economy to catch up with world economy. She added that Yemen is currently facing many challenges and "we are ready to accompany it to tackle with them especially in the field of supporting democracy, the matter that contributes to speed up the rate of reforms and enhance trust in the national economy. The commissioner considered the Yemeni government as has adopted ambitious agenda of reforms and achieved many positive steps in this regard and hence lies the European Commission desire to focus its future assistance on supporting constitutional institutions, parliamentary groups and political parties as well as activating of the sovereignty of law, human rights and the sector of health.