Panel discussion on Friends of Yemen accountability held in London

A panel discussion was held in the British capital London on Wednesday on the latest developments in Yemen. The discussion was organized by Chatham House ahead of the Friends of Yemen meeting to be held in London. At the panel discussion, attended by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed Al Saadi, Minister of Finance Sahkar al-Wajeh, British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General Jamal Benomar, Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi delivered a speech in which he reviewed the latest developments in Yemen and the steps carried out at the level of the GCC-brokered initiative as well as efforts to complete the implementation of the second phase of the initiative. Al-Qirbi pointed out that Yemen is on the outskirts of the start of a national dialogue conference after all preparations have been completed. The foreign minister stressed the importance of the international community continued support to Yemen during this phase and its support to the efforts of President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the government of National Reconciliation to succeed the remaining steps of the GCC-brokered initiative and strengthen the capacity of Yemen to overcome current challenges. For his part, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation talked on the latest developments in the country, particularly economic developments and challenges as well as the government's efforts to meet these challenges, promote the principle of transparency, accountability, develop management and investment and fight corruption. "Meeting these challenges, the government, in collaboration with development partners, developed a program for the stability and development 2012-2014", Al Saadi said, pointing out the donors and international organizations in the Riyadh donor meeting and the Friends of Yemen meeting in New York in 2012, pledged US $7.9 billion to support the government of Yemen in the transition. For his part, British Secretary of State for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt reiterated his country's support to Yemen's security, stability and unity and support for a political settlement, stressing the importance of the national dialogue conference, which will begin on 18 March. The British official said that his country encourages and calls on all parties in Yemen to actively participate in the dialogue conference and put their issues without preconditions. He warned that those who were trying to show of force in order to thwart the transition will not achieve success and that the international community will not leave those who seek to undermine the political process in Yemen. Jamal Benomar said the international community will continue its support to Yemen for the success of the transition process in this country as a unique experience in the Arab region. He stressed that the national dialogue to be launched on 18 March is the golden and only opportunity to get Yemenis out of challenges and crises and to address the various cases peacefully under the GCC-brokered initiative the Security Council resolutions.