Almotamar.net - A session of Yemeni-German talks was held in the German capital Berlin Wednesday between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and areas of cooperation at different levels as well as of discussing the German support to the process of democracy and development in Yemen.

Discussion was also held on the regional and international developments of common interest at the forefront of which developments in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Horn of Africa, the Iranian nuclear file and efforts of combating terror. The talks also tackled the German role in pushing forward the efforts of peace in the Middle East region.

President Saleh praised the level of relations and partnership existing between Yemen and Germany and the support Germany offers to the democratic and development process, stressing the importance of the German role in supporting Yemen the bilateral framework or inside the European Union.

On her part the German Chancellor Merkel praised the existing relations between the two friendly countries. She has praised the democratic experiment in Yemen, freedom of the press, the Yemeni woman participation in the political and public life, also what Yemen has achieved in the areas of reforms and the efforts it exerts in fighting terror. She has affirmed Germany's commitment to support Yemen in the democratic or the developmental area particularly in the fields of technical and vocational education in addition to backing up the Yemeni efforts in the area of security and fighting terror.

In their discussion of the situations in the region, among them the situations in Palestine, president Saleh and Chancellor Merkel affirmed the importance of establishment of peace in the region and the establishment of independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian national soil and the support for the Arab initiative on Lebanon in the manner accelerating the election of a president in Lebanon in order to gill the existing vacuum in this post and the supporting for the unity, security and stability of Lebanon. The two leaders also emphasized the two countries coordination regarding enhancement of security, stability and peace in the area of the Horn of Africa.

President Saleh also called on Germany to play an active role for the realization of easing the suffering of the Palestinian people resulting from the Israeli blockade and aggression especially against the sons of the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip, stressing the necessity that the international society shoulder its responsibility for putting pressure on Israel to implement the resolutions of the international legitimacy relevant to the Arab Israeli conflict. The president also invited the German Chancellor to visit Yemen to which she promised to meet as soon as possible.

After the talks President Saleh and Chancellor Merkel talked to the media. President Saleh expressed his happiness for visiting Germany and results of his talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel clarifying that he discussed bilateral relations and said the Yemeni German relations are of historical friendship and developing and deep-rooted. He said, "The two countries are similar in the experiment of unity as both were divided and regained their unity in peaceful methods." the President said his repeated visits to Germany contributed to flourishing of these relations and expanding areas of cooperation of the two countries.

President Saleh said Yemen was among the first countries that suffered from terror due to the gross damage to the economy the terrorist acts inflicted on the national economy and the difficulties and challenges that hider the process of development. Saleh said, "Therefore we are partners with the international community in facing terror and looking forward that cooperation should not be confined to military and security sides but to include support by the rich countries for efforts of the poor countries efforts in fighting poverty and unemployment as they represent fertile environment for attracting the youth by terrorist elements."

Chancellor Merkel praised the results of her talks with President Saleh and praised the Yemeni German relations.