Alimi Inaugurates Development Projects in Yemen's Al-Mahra Governorate

Al-Alimi inaugurated development and service projects in Al-Mahra Governorate. (Saba)
Al-Alimi inaugurated development and service projects in Al-Mahra Governorate. (Saba)
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Alimi Inaugurates Development Projects in Yemen's Al-Mahra Governorate

Al-Alimi inaugurated development and service projects in Al-Mahra Governorate. (Saba)
Al-Alimi inaugurated development and service projects in Al-Mahra Governorate. (Saba)

Dr. Rashad Mohammad Al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, laid the foundation stone for the Al-Ghaydah power station, during a ceremony on Monday.

The event was attended by the governor of Al-Mahra Governorate, Mohammad Ali Yasser, the secretary-general of the local council, Salem Nimer, and a number of local officials.

The strategic project aims to address the electricity and energy crisis in the city of Al-Ghaydah and its vicinities, alleviate the suffering of citizens, and stimulate commercial and service activity in Al-Mahra Governorate.

Al-Alimi was accompanied by the Director of the Office of the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Major General Saleh Al-Maqaleh, and the Minister of Education, Tariq Al-Akbari, and Minister of Public Works and Roads, Eng. Salem Al-Aboudi.

Also on Monday, Al-Alimi inaugurated the first phase of the tourist and residential city of Marina.

The city stretches over an area of one million square meters, and includes residential, tourism and recreational facilities, at a total cost of $100 million.

The project, which will be completed in 2028, will encompass over 100 residential units and more than 70 chalets distributed along charming sea resorts. It will also consist of a hotel, a water park, an entertainment city, educational and health service facilities, a gas station, a commercial market, a kindergarten, and a security center.

Marina will represent one of the largest tourism investments in Yemen, featuring an integrated entertainment complex that will be able to host artistic performances and local, regional and international events.

During his first visit to the governorate since assuming the presidency of the Leadership Council in April 2022, Al-Alimi, inaugurated a package of development and service projects in Al-Mahra, at a total cost of 93.3 billion riyals. Those cover the rehabilitation of roads, public works, electricity and energy, water, youth and sports.

The projects also include the expansion and rehabilitation of the southern entrance to the city of Al-Ghaydah, the project of lighting the streets in the same city, the entrances to the districts and the four tunnels in Fartak Mountains on the path of the international coastal road, in addition to the rehabilitation of the Sarfeet-Hof road at a length of 10 km, and the internal water network in the Sayhut district.



Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus
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Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

State news agency SANA did not give further details about Tajani and Sharaa's discussions, just over a month after opposition fighters seized Damascus and Assad fled to Moscow.

Tajani earlier met his new counterpart Asaad al-Shibani, after which the Syrian official said he would soon make his first official tour of Europe.

Tajani spoke of easing the sanctions imposed on the war-torn country under its former leader.

"The sanctions absolutely must not hit the Syrian population," he said.

"They were imposed because there was a different regime. It's important to open discussions on the changed situation."

Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions against Assad's government for his brutal crackdown after anti-government protests in 2011 that triggered civil war.

More than 13 years of conflict have killed in excess of half a million people, ravaged the economy, and pushed millions of people to flee their homes, including to Europe.

Tajani arrived after hosting talks with European counterparts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome on Thursday, where Tajani said they are seeking a "stable and united Syria.”

The European Union's top diplomat earlier Friday said the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria's new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities.

"The EU could gradually ease sanctions provided there is tangible progress," foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X.

Shibani said he welcomed what he described as Tajani's focus on sanctions.

"We share his opinion that the reasons for imposing them no longer exist, and could be an obstacle to encouraging the return of refugees from outside Syria,” Shibani said.

Tajani earlier toured the landmark Umayyad mosque in Damascus.

"It's a great pleasure... to be here this morning to visit and pay homage to all Syrian believers," he told AFP at the mosque, which is about 1,300 years old.

He described the mosque as "one of the most beautiful" in the world.

The Italian minister earlier said he planned to announce an initial development aid package for Syria.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus last week.