SAUDI ARABIA: Two days after more than 90 Yemeni soldiers died in an al Qaeda attack, a donor group of Western and Arab Gulf nations meets in Riyadh to see how they can help Yemen push ahead with reforms

Record ID: 188975

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Two days after more than 90 Yemeni soldiers died in an al Qaeda attack, a donor group of Western and Arab Gulf nations meets in Riyadh to see how they can help Yemen push ahead with reforms
  • Date: 24th May 2012
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FLAGS OF YEMEN DONOR GROUP ENVOYS GULF CO-OPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARY GENERAL, ABDUL LATIF AL ZAYANI, ARRIVING UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ADVISOR ON YEMEN, JAMAL BENOMAR, SPEAKING WITH OTHER DELEGATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ADVISOR ON YEMEN, JAMAL BENOMAR, SAYING: "The meeting is in the context of the efforts that the government is pursuing in order to implement the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) initiative and limitation mechanisms. Transition is on track and there is a lot of support from the international community." VARIOUS OF YEMEN DONOR ENVOYS STANDING FOR PHOTO SIGN SAYING "FRIENDS OF YEMEN MEETING" VARIOUS OF MEETING IN PROGRESS ENVOYS WALKING BEHIND CAMERA CREWS
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA6ZEQG5M96QBRL90C1CGIPI34C
  • Story Text: Saudi Arabia, concerned that chaos in Yemen is creating an al Qaeda base on its doorstep, pledged $3.25 billion in aid to its neighbour at a donor group meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday (May 23).
    The donor group was discussing political developments since President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in February, ending his three-decade rule in the Arabian Peninsula state after nearly a year of mass protests.
    "The meeting is in the context of the efforts that the government is pursuing in order to implement the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) initiative and limitation mechanisms. Transition is on track and there is a lot of support from the international community," said United Nations Special Advisor on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, referring to the Gulf Co-operation Council, made up of the oil-rich states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia and the UAE.
    The Saudi pledge comes two days after more than 90 Yemeni soldiers were killed in a suicide attack.
    Riyadh, which already provides oil and military aid to its impoverished neighbour, convened Western and Arab Gulf nations to see how they can help Yemen push ahead with reforms and tackle its poverty and lawlessness.
    Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal did not detail how the money would be used.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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