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Robert Pelletreau, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Press Conference, Tenth Anniversary of the Unification of Yemen May 22 Sanaa, Yemen, May 24, 2000

Well Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen: I will make an opening statement which will be as the official United States government representative, and then I will respond to your questions, but my capacity in responding to your questions will be as a former United States government official. It was a great honor for me to be asked to be the representative of the United States to the Tenth Anniversary of the Unification of Yemen. I brought with me a letter from President Bill Clinton which I had the honor to present personally to H.E. President Ali Abdullah Saleh. I also was able to present the congratulations of the United States, both its President and its people, to the government and people of Yemen on this important occasion. I wish to add my own congratulations for the splendid ceremony which we witnessed on the 22nd of May, the impressive number of international delegations which were present and the excellent organization which the government of Yemen demonstrated throughout the entire ceremony. It was also a special pleasure for me to be able to spend two additional days in Yemen. I had the opportunity during these two days to pay my respect to H.E. the Prime Minister, and to visit with five additional ministers of the government, as well as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and to hear from them personally of the many accomplishments that have taken place recently in Yemen and of their plans for further development in so many fields. The United States supports the unity of Yemen, as the best way to insure peace and security in the region. The United States supports the peaceful resolution of outstanding border disputes. The United States supports democracy in Yemen. We recognize that this is a work which is continuing to develop and we support the further institutionalization of democracy in Yemen. The United States supports the efforts which the Government of Yemen is making to confront the challenges of development and especially the economic reform program of the Government, the close-working relationship with the World Bank, the preparations which are being made for negotiations to join the World Trade Organization, and the new emphasis which is being placed on the private sector, so that the private sector will be the primary engine for growth and job creation in the future. After the successful visit of H.E. the President to the United States, we look forward to strengthening the fruitful dialogue that exists between our two countries, and the further development of our relations based on mutual respect and our common interests. I wish to thank H.E. the President, and the government, for their warm hospitality, and welcome, and extend my own best wishes to, the people of Yemen for their success and their prosperity. Thank you. [end of document] Official Texts | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State