Iraq-Iran, Politics, 5/17/2003

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Iranian President Muhammad Khatami have stressed the need of an Iraqi government which is able to withstand challenges and able to coexist with its neighbors, noting that the Anglo- British occupation of Iraq will not bring security and stability to the region.

The Yemeni news agency said that the two presidents discussed during their meeting yesterday the ME peace process and the situation in Iraq and view points were identical between the two sides concerning all debated issues.

Following the meeting, the Yemeni president said that his country will work to strengthen relations with Iran. Bilateral agreements signed between the two countries covered various areas especially the economy, investment, security and naval trade.

The Iranian president met in Sanaa yesterday with the Yemeni Vice President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the prime minister Abdul Qader Bajmal, the chairman of the Shoura council Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani and the speaker of the Yemeni Parliament Abdullah Hussein al-Ahmar.

During the meetings the two sides underlined the importance of establishing relations between the two countries based on joint cooperation and interests and coordinating stances between the two countries' political and legislative establishment.

The Iranian President arrived in Yemen on Thursday in a one day official visit after which he headed to Bahrain his last leg in a tour on the region that covered also Syria and Lebanon.