Richard: USA proud of backing Yemen to return Abyan's life to normal

USA deputy ambassador to Yemen on Wednesday expressed her government's pride in supporting Yemen to return life in Abyan province to normal. The USA takes pride in backing the Yemeni government and the local authority to return the public life in Abyan and surrounding areas to normal and in providing support to raise the level of education and basic services and to revive the national economy as well, said Elizabeth Richard. The USA diplomat made the statement in an enlarged meeting organized by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Abyan Reconstruction Fund held in Sana'a to discuss reconstruction efforts in Yemen. Planning and International Cooperation Minister Mohammed al-Sa'adi accented that the international community, topped by the USA, is a key partner in the reconstruction efforts in Yemen during the transitional stage. Al-Sa'adi talked about the importance of the meeting that gathered representatives of the government and local and international organizations, saying that the meeting would discuss urgent issues, such as rebuilding conflict-affected areas in Abyan, Lahj and Aden provinces. Several issues were touched upon in the meeting, including the underway and future efforts to rehabilitate the infrastructure, basic services and educational facilities, in addition to revive economy in areas of agriculture, fisheries, transport and commerce.