Yemeni FM highlights Basendawa's visit to Qatar

Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said that Prime Minister Mohamed Salem Basendawa's visit to Qatar has opened a new page in Qatari-Yemeni relations, stressing that Qatar always stands with Yemen in all difficult circumstances. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al-Qirbi said that Prime Minister Basendawa, who ended his visit to Doha on Wednesday, briefed the Qatari side on the developments and the overall political, economic and security challenges witnessed by Yemen recently. The Prime Minister's visit came within an earlier tour to a number of GCC countries to strengthen relations and explain the developments on the Yemeni arena, especially the GCC initiative and its implementation mechanisms, al-Qirbi noted. In response to a question on how to ensure the success of the transition phase in his country, the Yemeni minister said that success in the first phase of the GCC initiative confirms that they are able to succeed in the second phase and Yemenis are convinced that the only way to move forward is the implementation of this initiative. There is a conviction among all parties that they should intensify their efforts and hold the intention to succeed in the next stages, he added. Regarding the national dialogue's timing stipulated in the GCC initiative the Yemeni Foreign Minister said the dialogue will start soon and we are waiting President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi to form a committee for this purpose.