ADDIS ABABA, (Saba)- Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi returned home on Tuesday after successful meetings of the Yemeni-Ethiopian Joint Ministerial Committee held in Addis Ababa,
August 17-18.

Al-Qirbi handed over Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi a letter from President Ali Abdullah Saleh on mutual relations between the two countries and means of enhancing cooperation ties in economic and investment fields.

Al-Qirbi said to Saba that Zenawi affirmed in his response to President Saleh's letter that relations between Yemen and Ethiopia are strong and that the two countries have common
viewpoints towards the international and regional issues, particularly in the African Horn and Somalia.

Yemen and Ethiopia have confirmed their concern to develop and extend mutual cooperation in all fields.

The committee reviewed a report by the technical committee about the previous agreements, executive programa, MoUs and evaluated th level of putting them into force.

In this 4th round Yemen and Ethiopia signed an agreement allows Yemeni and Ethiopian diplomats to enter each country without entry visa.
The two countries also approved executives program for cultural and tourist cooperation for the period of 2007-2009.

The minutes of the sessions included also agreements of mutual cooperation in economic, investment, cultural, tourism, information, health, higher education, specifications and
measurements, said al-Qirbi.

During meetings, the two sides discussed also a darft agreement to set up a Yemeni-Ethiopian businessmen council and a draft agreement to organize the conditions of Ethiopian workers in Yemen, and draft memo of understanding to set up Yemeni-Ethiopian free zone to
that may also inlcude Sudan and Somalia.

The ministerial committee agreed to meet every six months after meetings of sub-committees which formed to prepare for the ministerial meetings.

The two sides also formed a Follow-up Committee to follow carrying out the signed agreements and raising notes to the ministerial meetings.

NN/YA/NS

Saba