Italian foreign minister to visit Yemen next week

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino is scheduled to arrive on several days visit to Yemen early next week. The Yemeni government said in a statement today that the Italian Minister will hand over a letter form Italian President Giorgio Napolitano to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, pertaining to ways of enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. A Yemeni-Italian summit will then be held between Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi and his Italian counterpart to discuss aspects of cooperation and coordination in regional and international issues of mutual concern, the statement said. The summit will also highlight Italy's support to the political efforts of the Yemeni leadership and the national reconciliation government, the statement added, noting that the Italian Foreign Minister will be briefed about the progress of the comprehensive national dialogue and the political settlement process in Yemen.