Yemen hope Saudi to boost security in the region

Saudi Arabia will not show any leniency toward those who try to tamper with its security and stability, said Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, on Saturday.

Addressing a meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council (SYCC) in Riyadh, Prince Sultan warned extremist Muslim groups against becoming "destructive tools" in the hands of their enemies.

He was referring to the Houthi rebels in Yemen who drew Saudi Arabia into a border war after they attacked a Saudi border post three months ago. Riyadh had to take military action to drive away the infiltrators.

Prince Sultan highlighted the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and said the current SYCC meeting would witness signing of agreements in health, education, tourism and social insurance.

In his speech, Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mujawar expressed his hope that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries would play a big role in boosting the development and stability of his country.

He expressed hope that Yemenis would receive more job opportunities in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. "We also need greater political and security coordination between our two countries in order to confront all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism," the Yemeni premier said.

The meeting witnessed the signing of several bilateral agreements. Saudi Arabia agreed to give SR430 million in soft loans to finance water, energy, health and educational projects in Yemen. Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, signed an agreement with Abdul Hafiz Al-Samma, Yemen's Cabinet secretary, for strengthening cooperation in tourism.