VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr President, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Moscow. Both Yemen and you personally, Mr President, are great friends of Russia's.
It is also our great pleasure to show you cutting-edge Russian technology and enjoy our achievements together. I would like to discuss the future of our relations with regards to military-technical cooperation, energy and other issues. Our cooperation on the international stage is good, and our economic relations form a solid foundation for improving other types of relations, including cultural ties. I also hope that you are enjoying your trip.
Ali Abdullah Saleh (as translated): Mr Prime Minister, I would like to thank you for the warm reception and hospitality. You have welcomed me as a true friend of Yemen and a supporter of broader ties between our two countries.
We have enjoyed ourselves immensely, and we are highly impressed by what we have seen as far as the heights Russia has attained in using cutting-edge technology in industry.
We have signed several contracts with the Russian company Rosoboronexport for aircraft, vehicles and other equipment. At the same time, we also welcome Russian investment in the Yemeni economy, especially in energy, oil and gas. This will contribute to better integration and cooperation.
Yemen is not a rich country, and we are seeking opportunities to strengthen our position, including through oil exploration.
The country is now undergoing significant demographic growth, and we have many social commitments. We are also engaged in a difficult fight against Al Qaida.
We also recently had to deal with separatists in the south and Houthi attacks near the Saudi border. The Houthis are supported by certain forces in the Persian Gulf, including Iran. But Iran has acted covertly, supporting them indirectly through various organisations and groups. These are the key problems we face today and that we are trying to fight.
