News in 2012

Yemen, Japan discuss enhancing health cooperation

[19/December/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Yemen and Japan discussed here on Wednesday the potential means to enhance the mutual health cooperation relations, topped by training the technical cadres of medical devices maintenance. Minister of Public Health and Population Ahmed al-Ansi and Japanese ambassador to Yemen Katsu Yoshie Hayashi also discussed the possibility of Japan to present assistance to the Tuberculosis Hospital in Sana'a. Al-Ansi expressed the Yemeni government and people's appreciation of the aid Japan presents to the health sector in the country. Hayashi stressed his country's keenness on improving the cooperation relations with Yemen, particularly in the health sector.

President congratulates Emperor of Japan on his birthday

[19/December/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi sent on Wednesday a congratulation cable to Emperor Akihito of Japan on the occasion of friendly Japanese people' celebrations on the Emperor's birthday.

Japan donates $7 mln to help feed poor Yemenis

[18/December/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - The Government of Japan and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a new agreement in Rome that will provide US$7.1 million in emergency food assistance for almost half a million Yemenis. WFP will use the Japanese donation, equivalent to 580 million Japanese Yen, to purchase more than 10,000 metric tons of wheat for its emergency safety net programme, under which monthly rations are delivered to food insecure households during the six months of Yemen's "hunger season" between May and October. "The government of Japan is eager to contribute to alleviating the suffering caused by food shortages across Yemen, which is going through a very critical juncture on the humanitarian and political fronts," said Ambassador of Japan in Yemen H.E. Katsuyoshi Hayashi. "This is the second batch of Japan's humanitarian aid to Yemen in 2012 bringing the total amount of Japanese food assistance to Yemen this year to US$14.6 million." Japan is the fourth largest donor supporting WFP activities in Yemen as well as WFP's fourth largest single donor globally supporting the UN food agency with over US$140 in 2012. "This is an especially welcome donation that will allow us to continue our operations into 2013," said WFP Country Director Lubna Alaman. "We are particularly grateful for the timely and generous response to an appeal we made to the Japanese Government for supporting emergency food assistance programmes that were threatened by a lack of resources." A WFP Comprehensive Food Security Survey earlier this year found that more than 10 million Yemenis - almost 45 percent of the population - are food insecure. Out of those, more than 5 million Yemenis were found to be severely food insecure - a level of need that means they are unable to produce or buy the food they need and require food assistance because. WFP has scaled up its operations in Yemen to reach 5.5 million people this year and plans to assist a similar number in 2013.

Japan grants Yemen $7 mln

[08/December/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Japan allocates a food grant worth of $7 million to Yemen and the European Union (EU) to provide urgent humanitarian aid for Abyan province's displaced people. The aid was announced by Japanese ambassador to Yemen Katsu Yoshie Hayashi and EU ambassador Bettina Muscheidt during separate meetings with Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi. Hayashi said that the Japanese grant would be extended to Yemen via the World Food Programme (WFP), adding that Japan would present further economic assistances to Yemen in the coming period. Al-Sa'adi voiced the government's appreciation of the adherence Japan showed to keep on offering political and economic aid to Yemen, stressing the importance of widening bilateral cooperation relations in all areas. The meeting discussed the progress of implementing the Japanese-funded projects in Yemen.

JICA resumes activities in Yemen

[25/November/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) resumes its activities in Yemen, Japanese official said Sunday in Sana'a. During his meeting with Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi, cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa official at the Japanese Foreign Ministry Ken Mica said the Japanese government has announced the resumption of JICA's activities in Yemen after a suspension due to the security repercussions of the last year political crisis in Yemen. The Japanese official reiterated his country's commitment to continue to present all kind of aid required to help the government to fulfill the transitional stage's requirements. Al-Sa'adi expressed Yemen's appreciation of the Japanese government's decision to recommence JICA's activities in the country, stressing the government's keenness to enhance the cooperation relations between the two countries.

FM receives credentials of new Japanese ambassador to Yemen

[21/November/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi received on Wednesday a copy of credentials of Katsu Yoshie Hayashi as Ambassador and Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Japan to Yemen. In the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of boosting them. Al-Qirbi praised the level of the distinct relations between the two countries, expressing his hope that these relations will witness further development and growth in the coming period. For his part, the Japanese ambassador confirmed his country's continued support to Yemen and its keenness on Yemen's security, stability and unity.

Yemen and Japan discuss means to boost mutual cooperation

[04/November/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi discussed with Japanese deputy ambassador to Yemen Katsumi Moraiso the possible means to boost the mutual cooperation relations. They also reviewed the outcomes of the last visit the minister has paid to Japan, including the agreement to raise the level of cooperation between Yemen and Japan. Al-Sa'adi pinned hopes that Japan could play more effective role in supporting the development and stability in Yemen, praising the strong participation of Japan in Riyadh donor meeting and Friends of Yemen meeting in New York. The Japanese diplomat reiterated his country's persistence in presenting all available assistance to Yemen.

JICA to support human development programs in Yemen

[17/October/2012]

TOKYO (Saba) - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) affirmed to support Yemen and its human development programs, the JICA President Akihiko Tanaka said Wednesday. At his meeting with Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, the JICA President asserted that the agancy's support would be either via increasing the number of training courses or through propping up institutes of technical education and vocational training. The JICA would also contribute in developing the public education and health services in Yemen as well as supporting the Yemeni security efforts aimed at combating piracy, he added. The two officials reviewed subjects related to the mutual relations between Yemen and the JICA in addition to issues of the work progress of several Japanese-funded projects and the future projects proposed to be funded in the coming period. Al-Sa'adi hailed the contribution of the JICA in propping up the development and stability process in Yemen, confirming the keenness of the Yemeni government to benefit from the Japanese experience in achieving the sustainable development.

Premier sends letter to Japanese counterpart

[16/October/2012]

TOKYO (Saba) - Minster of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi handed over on Tuesday a letter from Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basindwa to Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda. Al-Sa'adi delivered the letter to Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Kazuya Shimba, which included the Yemeni government's appreciation of the Japanese government and people's assistance to Yemen, through supporting the activities of the international and regional development organizations. During the meeting, al-Sa'adi accented the government's keenness to step up the joint cooperation aspects with Japan and avail from the Japanese experience in various development areas. Mr. Shimba repeat reiterated the readiness of Japan to keep on presenting all aid to help the Yemeni government to fulfill the coming stage's requirements. On the other hand, the International Cooperation Minister met held talks with Parliamentary Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Honda Hiranao over several issues to enhance the cooperation between Yemen and Japan. Al-Sa'adi reviewed the economic and security challenges facing Yemen and the government's efforts to address them and achieve the desired political transition in the country in addition to the outcomes of the donor and Friends of Yemen meetings held in Riyadh and New York last September. For his part, Mr. Hiranao stressed the Japan's keenness to present economic and development support needed to help the Yemeni government to overcome the current and future challenges. He said that Japan would provide more financial and technical aid to Yemen during to back the political transition process and assist in tackling the repercussions of the last year's political crisis. The Minister is in Japan to participate in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) held on September 12 - 14 in Tokyo.

JICA experts to return to Yemen soon

[15/October/2012]

TOKYO (Saba) - Japan is intending to send back the Japanese experts to work in the office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Sana'a as soon as possible in order to complete implementing the JICA-funded projects in Yemen, Japanese Minister said Monday. This came by the Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto during his meeting with Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. Morimoto affirmed the keenness of Japan to continue offering the overall support required to boost the security and stability of Yemen. He also noted to the desire of the Japanese government to develop and enhance the capabilities of the Yemeni coast guard and security services via providing boats of maritime surveillance. For his part, al-Sa'adi affirmed Yemen is keen to strength aspects of bilateral cooperation with Japan, hailing the attentiveness of Japan to support and promote the development paths and stability in Yemen by funding many vital development projects.

As diplomatic terms end, Hadi meets EU, Japanese ambassadors

[19/September/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi met here separately with European Union (EU) and Japanese ambassadors on the occasion of ending their diplomatic terms in Yemen. During his meeting with EU ambassador Michele Cervone d'Urso, the President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi valued highly the efforts the EU ambassador has played during carrying out his diplomatic mission in the country, particularly since the eruption of the 2011 crisis. President Hadi also reviewed with the EU ambassador the developments in Somalia, including the presidential election and the current situation. President Hadi decorated d'Urso the medal of Unification in recognition of his great diplomatic actions he has made that helped in solving the crisis in Yemen. On the other meeting, President Hadi reviewed with Japanese ambassador Mitsuo Nouri Nampa the situation in the country due to the last year crisis and its repercussions in the security and political areas. During the meeting bid farewell to the Japanese ambassador whose diplomatic term ended in Yemen, Hadi indicated to the critical circumstances Yemen is experiencing currently and the required aid to restore the security and stability in the country. Nampa described the three years he has expended here as critical, saying that he has experienced the beginning of the 2011 crisis. Yemen was the only countries, among many others, that has tackled its crisis peacefully and via a smooth power transition thanks to the great efforts made by the political leadership in the country, topped by President Hadi, the ambassador said. He added that Yemen has overcome the most complicated challenges and it is now so close to the national dialogue to achieve its desired goals, stressing that Japan would offer all kinds of aid to Yemen.

FM sees off EU, Japanese ambassadors

[19/September/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi held on Wednesday separate meetings with European Union (EU) and Japanese ambassadors on the occasion of ending their diplomatic terms in Yemen. During the meetings, the Foreign Minister hailed the roles EU ambassador Michele Cervone d'Urso and Japanese ambassador Mitsuo Nouri Nampa have played during their carrying out their diplomatic missions in the country. Al-Qirbi also praised the EU ambassador's efforts to help the Yemeni government to tackle the last year crisis's aftermaths and the challenges Yemen is experiencing currently. The ambassadors voiced appreciation of the facilities they have enjoyed by the Foreign Ministry in Yemen, asserting their countries support for the stability, security and unity of the country. The Japanese diplomat stressed his country's high-rank participation in the ministerial meeting of friends of Yemen scheduled for September 27 in New York, USA.

Yemen, Japan discuss media cooperation aspects

[09/September/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Chairman of Yemen News Agency (Saba) and editor-in-chief Tariq al-Shami discussed on Sunday with Japanese deputy ambassador to Yemen Kutsumi Moureaso areas of cooperation in the media aspects. In the meeting, al-Shami highly valued Japan's position in supporting Yemen in the developmental, economic and political areas, which reflects the distinct relationship between the two friendly countries. For his part, the Japanese deputy ambassador hailed the efforts made for the Gulf initiative's implementation so as to spare Yemen dangers and adopting peaceful solutions in addressing all issues.

Interior minister meets British PM advisor, Japanese diplomat

[13/August/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Yemen and Britain discussed here on Monday the bilateral cooperation relations, particularly in security and counterterrorism areas. This came in a meeting brought together Interior Minister Abdul-Qader Qahtan with counterterrorism advisor to the British Prime Minister Robin Searby. Qahtan praised the British support for the interior ministry to develop and train the security apparatuses. The British official condemned the sabotage acts committed in the interior ministry building last week, stressing that Britain and the international community would stand by with the Yemeni government in its war against terrorism. Searby said that his country would continue its assistance required to rebuild aftermaths of the last year crisis in Yemen in various areas, topped by security.
On the other hand, the Interior Minister reviewed with Japanese ambassador to Yemen Mitsuo Nouri Nampa the cooperation relations between Yemen and Japan, particularly in security and counterterrorism fields. Qahtan asserted Yemen's keenness on improving the cooperation relations with Japan and availing from the Japanese expertise in development and economic areas. Mr. Nampa said that his government would continue its development support to Yemen, including the security areas that would be provided with modern techniques.

Yemen, Japan discuss economic, development cooperation

[01/August/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Yemen and Japan discussed here on Wednesday the economic, investment and development cooperation in areas of oil and gas. This came in a meeting gathered Minister of Oil and Minerals Hisham Sharaf and Japanese ambassador to Yemen Mitsuo Nouri Nampa. Sharaf hailed the aid and support Japan presents to Yemen in all international events, stressing the importance of exploiting the skillful Yemeni manpower or qualify them to be hired in the ongoing or coming projects in the country or abroad. The Japanese ambassador indicated to the donor countries and funds' support to Yemen's trend to underpin democracy and implement the Gulf initiative, stressing Japan's keenness to back Yemen to improve the economic situation via mobilizing international resources. Nampa said that the donor and investment companies inflowing to Yemen and utilizing natural resources and work force would affect considerably development and stability in Yemen.

Progress of Japanese-funded health projects in Yemen discussed

[14/April/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - Minister of Public Health and Population Ahmed al-Ansi discussed here on Saturday with Japan's ambassador to Yemen Mitsuo Nouri Nampa the progress of the Japanese-funded health projects in Yemen. Al-Ansi and Nampa also reviewed the progress of the underway training program for 26 Yemeni cadres in Japan. The public health minister briefed the Japanese ambassador on the ministry's future plans to improve the health sector in the country as well as humanitarian situation of the internally displaced people in some governorates, hailing the Japanese government's support for the various health areas in Yemen. The Japanese government stressed his country's readiness to continue to support the health areas in Yemen and help the ministry to face all ongoing challenges.

Japan grants $22.6 mln for Yemen's humanitarian needs

[03/March/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - The Japanese government granted Yemen on Saturday $22.6 million aiming to alleviate the humanitarian repercussions and living conditions caused by the last year political crisis. The Japanese government allocated the grant for supporting the UN-implemented programs in Yemen, particularly the humanitarian activities of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), anti-landmine program and UNDP-implemented youth employment program. The grant was handed over by the Japanese ambassador Mitsuo Nouri Nampa to the UN organizations' representatives in Yemen in the presence of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi.

Japan grants $1.14 mln to support Yemeni presidential election

[08/January/2012]

SANA'A (Saba) - The Japanese government has granted $1.14 million to support the early presidential election in Yemen, the Japanese ambassador to Yemen said on Sunday. During his meeting with Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, Mitsuo Nouri Nampa said that the sum is to be granted via the United Nations development Programme (UNDP) office in Yemen and would be dedicated for supporting the management of the early presidential election to be held February 21, 2012. The Japanese ambassador also expressed his satisfaction at improving the situation in the country. Al-Qirbi expressed his appreciation of the Japanese aid to the Yemeni election, stressing the importance of the international community's support for the Yemeni government in the current circumstances.