Newsletter No. 492
News-Analysis
January 23, 2007

 

JAPANESE AND YEMENI OFFICIALS DISCUSS AID PROJECTS

There have been several small reports on Japan-Yemen relations in recent days. On the 18th, Yemeni ambassador to Tokyo, Ali al-Saqaf, met with Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Masakazu Sekiguchi. The purpose of their talks appears to have been to discuss ways in which Japan might provide development aid to Yemen. In particular, there was talk of sending a Japanese mission to Yemen in February to examine the expansion of technical training programs.

Another meeting took place in Sanaa on the 21st. In this case, a JICA representative met with Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abd al-Karim al-Arhabi. This seems to have been a follow-up from the meeting in Tokyo that took place a few days earlier.

It will be recalled that the last major event in Japan-Yemen relations was the visit to Tokyo of President Ali Abdallah Salih in November 2005 (see Shingetsu Newsletter Nos. 110 and 113). Last year, we had only a brief mention of a visit to Yemen by then-Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shintaro Ito (see Shingetsu Newsletter No. 346 at the end of July). For a brief orientation on Japan-Yemen relations, please read the official statement carried in Shingetsu Newsletter No. 113, and the short speech from Shintaro Ito carried below.

STATEMENT AT THE CEREMONY AT THE AL-SHORTA HOSPITAL IN SANAA
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shintaro Ito
August 1, 2006

Mr. Riyadh Al-Qirshi, Deputy Minister of Health and Population, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me a great pleasure to take part in this delivery ceremony at the Al-Shorta Hospital in Sana'a during which we deliver medical equipment valued at US$75,442 is provided as a grant by the Government of Japan under the Japanese scheme called "Grant Assistance for Grass Roots Human Security Projects."

We are confident that this equipment will contribute to develop the medical services extended by the hospital, and I am pleased to see that this equipment is working in an excellent way to serve the people through qualified and expert medical staff.

The Government of Japan has provided economic and technical assistance to Yemen over the last three decades, in particular focusing on basic human needs such as health, water and education. Japan intends to provide assistance to help Yemen achieve the development goals varying from improving health services, eradicating poverty, and achieving universal primary education. Japan, together with international organizations and other donors, will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Yemeni Government and will support its efforts for development.

We trust that the hospital's medical staff will maintain and work with this equipment efficiently.

Thank you.