25.11.2009
"Implement reforms and realize human rights"
Niebel meets Yemen's Foreign Minister
Today in Berlin, Minister Dirk Niebel received Yemen's Foreign Minister, Dr. Abu Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi, at the Development Ministry. The two Ministers paid tribute to the achievements of their countries' long-standing development cooperation. Minister Niebel confirmed that their close cooperation should continue in future. One important issue on the meeting's agenda was the great challenges facing Yemen. They include the decline in drinking water resources and the country's birth rate, which continues to be very high. Development and business activities in this Arab country are being impeded by the fighting in Yemen's northern province of Sa'dah in particular, and by the worsened security situation throughout the country.
Minister Niebel stated: "We are very concerned about developments in Yemen, especially about the increasing violence in the north. The adoption of the National Reform Agenda by Yemen's government was an important starting signal. Now the government needs to make further headway on implementing the reform program. Germany is willing to provide active support to Yemen in carrying out the requisite reforms. We attach particular attention to the realization of human rights."
The German Development Ministry has been working together with Yemen for as long as 40 years. Most recently, just under 80 million euros was committed in May this year during government negotiations in Berlin for the years 2009 and 2010. The program of cooperation focuses on drinking water supply and sanitation as well as education. In the past few years, the two sides have succeeded in improving water supply and sanitation in many small towns and connecting some 2.5 million people to the water supply network. The country's enrollment rate has also been considerably increased.