On December 18, 2003, the European Union (EU)’s External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, and the Yemeni Ambassador at the EU Mohamed Jaffer signed the establishment agreement for the opening of a European Commission delegation in Sana'a, Yemen, from January 2004.
The office in Sana'a will support development co-operation activities and implementation of the National Indicative Program for Yemen, which represents the bulk of EC-Yemen bilateral relations. The establishment of the delegation will also help to strengthen co-operation in key areas of mutual interest such as human rights and democratization.
"The opening of a delegation in Sana'a is a clear sign of the Commission's commitment to give a new impetus to EC-Yemen relations, including political dialogue,” said Patten. Yemen is undertaking remarkable efforts in the field of democratization and human rights, which deserve to be further encouraged and supported, including through our financial support to the Yemen initiative to hold an International Conference on Human Rights, rule of law and the International Criminal Court next January in Sana'a."
The office in Sana'a will operate as an antenna of the Commission delegation in Amman and should be fully operative in early 2004. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
