By Mohammed al-Kibsi & Zaid al-Alaya’a

Berlin, Germany, 1 March 2008 - Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without accepting the establishment of a Palestinian state in its homeland, and this is the role that Israel must play by abiding by calls  made by the United Nations, as well as the calls of 1967, said President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a summit with Angela Merkel, German Chancellor.

President Saleh and Chancellor Merkel held a Yemeni-German dialogue session on Wednesday to review bilateral relations and mutual cooperation so as to investigate ways to increase German support of Yemen’s democracy and development. In addition, the Palestinian cause was at the top of the agenda, alongside the curent events in Iraq and Somalia. The two sides also tackled recent regional developments in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear issue and efforts to combat terror. 

The talks dealt with the central role that Germany plays in energizing peaceful European Union (EU) policy toward the Middle East.  President Saleh highlighted the level of mutual relations and partnership between Yemen and Germany, and German support for democracy and development in Yemen, affirming the importance of Germany in supporting Yemen both bilaterally and through the EU. 

Chancellor Merkel pointed to relations between the two friendly countries and the importance of nurturing Yemen’s infant democracy with development assistance projects as well as supporting the country in fields of security, combating terror and technical and vocational education. 

Saleh confirmed the significance of ensuring peace in the Middle East and establishing an independent Palestinian state, and the role that Germany can play in marshalling support for the Arab Peace Initiative concerning Lebanon’s presidential elective impasse and supporting Lebanon’s unity, security and stability. 

He called on Germany to play an active role in alleviating the  sufferings of Palestinian people resulted from the  Israeli aggression and its blockade of the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the responsibility of the  international community for pressuring on  Israel to implement the international decisions concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict. 

He talked about the initiative he presented to President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and to the leadership of Hamas for settling the Palestinian rift. 

“If Hamas and Fatah agreed on solving their differences this would help the Arab League and international community to provide assistance to the Palestinians,” President Saleh asserted. 

Chancellor Merkel highlighted the talks with Saleh saying, “We work together for supporting the Yemeni Government in development fields, especially the technical and vocational education field.”

 “I confirmed support for Yemen for overcoming challenges it faces whether in security or development fields,” she said, noting that the talks between President Saleh and German officials during this visit would help in boosting cooperation between the two countries. 

“I talked with Saleh on situations in the Middle East, at the forefront of which is Lebanon, and confirmed that we are waiting for Syria to play a positive role in the process for electing a president in Lebanon,” Merkel added. 

President Saleh extended an invitation to Merkel to visit Yemen which she promised to respond to as soon as possible. 

Source: Yemen Observer