Almotamar.net - US visiting Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman has on Wednesday has described the Yemeni-American relations as strong, indicating that the message that he brought from Washington is a strong message for supporting Yemen’s unity.

The US official said that one of the pillars they rely on is the unity of Yemen, adding his visit is not within the frame of a regional tour but rather a visit special to Yemen and came from Washington to Sana’a and would return from Sana’a to Washington, he said the message he came with from Washington is a strong message supporting Yemen’s unity.

He said he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to work with the Yemeni government through facing the challenges whether they were short-termed or long-termed and whether these challenges were in the security field or the developmental or the political.

The US diplomat added that there is a very strong support for the Yemeni government and Yemen unity did not come just from one side but rather from all the international and regional parties that participated in London Conference.

On what is going on in some districts of the southern provinces and he calls made by some and the acts of violence and violation of law and order, Althawra.net website quoted Feltman as saying that they consider what happens In the southern provinces as an internal affair and concerns Yemen alone and they think that any foreign party must not interfere in them. He added that they encourage all the parties in the Yemeni national arena on the basis of taking measures and tackling of any rights and grievances in the manner enhancing the national unity.

Feltman said he was much encouraged by what he heard from government officials of keenness on existence of government services in all Yemeni arrears especially those where services were not available in the past and that means realization of the Yemeni government and its vision for achieving the legitimate demands of different areas.

In response to a question concerning the United States of America assessment of the efforts the Yemeni government is exerting in confronting the terrorist elements and the war on al-Qaeda, the US Assistant Secretary of State said they were encouraged during the past months by the efforts exerted by the Yemeni government and were encouraged by its determination in that regard.

On his vision of the level of the Yemeni-American relations and the volume of the American support offered to Yemen , which despite its increase was still , according to many, less than what it should , Feltman said the Yemeni American relations are strong and they are not just between the two states but gather the two peoples . In his view is that large number of Yemeni Americans inside the United States as well as the Yemeni Americans present in Yemen, deeming those family and personal relations succeed where the official sides achieve in deepening those ties.

With regard to the support presented by the United States to Yemen he mentioned that in 2008 it was just $17 million and rose to $ 42 million in 2009 and for this year it rose to $67 million. He added that according to request of President Barack Obama to the congress and its acceptance of the request the support would rise to $106 million for the next year, and that does not include the much security support.