Yemen: SDRPY Develops Various Projects in Aden

General view of Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
General view of Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
TT

Yemen: SDRPY Develops Various Projects in Aden

General view of Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
General view of Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) brings hope to the residents of the temporary capital, Aden, and addresses all their urgent needs, announced Undersecretary of Aden Mohammed Nasr al-Shazly.

He said the Saudi program has already started a number of projects including the development of Aden International Airport, and reconstruction and equipping of Aden General Hospital.

He indicated that the people of Aden depend on the program and are confident that Saudi officials are exerting all efforts to improve the situation in the city.

The Undersecretary stated that SDRPY’s recent visit to Aden brought hope to the people, and the program’s delegation addressed all urgent needs and vital projects.

He pointed out that Aden’s situation is difficult and in need of urgent and rapid interventions by the government, the coalition, and donors, especially in the field of water sanitation, roads, electricity, and hygiene, in addition to addressing the health situation.

Iranian-backed Houthi militia deliberately destroyed in its war on Aden in 2015 the services sector, and the city is still suffering the consequences of that war, added the Undersecretary.

Shazly spoke of optimism among Aden residents to achieve political stability and normalization of services, especially after the signing of the Riyadh agreement between the legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Council.

Aden is in urgent need of large investment projects that provide jobs and support the economy, and this in itself is the most important victory the city can achieve after the Riyadh agreement, according to Shazly.

Earlier in January, the Saudi Program launched the first phase of developing and reconstructing Aden International Airport including the issues of safety, passenger transfer, and firefighting.

The Program also immediately approved a project to dig five new wells as well as rehabilitate and operate 10 other wells ready at a rate of 45 thousand cubic meters per day. The wells will be operated through solar energy to preserve the environment, benefiting about 1.5 million people from the population of Aden.

During the recent visit to Aden, the Saudi Program discussed ways to cooperate with Masila Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (PetroMasila), the largest oil company in Yemen, to establish new power stations in all liberated provinces during the coming period.



US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
TT

US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)

Recent statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his willingness to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations between the two countries have sparked mixed reactions.
While the Syrian opposition sees the possibility of such a meeting despite the challenges, Damascus views the statements as a political maneuver by the Turks. Meanwhile, the United States has tied the normalization process to achieving a political solution in Syria based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, issued in 2015.
Turkish media reported on Thursday that a US administration official, who was not named, confirmed that Washington is against normalizing relations with the Syrian regime under Assad. He emphasized that Washington cannot accept normalizing ties with Damascus without progress toward a political solution that ends the conflicts in Syria.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, Hadi al-Bahra, stated that a meeting between Assad and Erdogan is possible despite the obstacles. In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, Bahra said the meeting is feasible, even though Ankara is fully aware that the Assad regime cannot currently meet its demands and understands the regime’s limitations.
Bahra pointed out that the UN-led political process remains frozen and that he had briefed US and Western officials on the latest developments in the Syrian file. On Saturday, Bahra participated in a consultative meeting in Ankara with the Syrian Negotiation Commission, along with a high-level delegation from the US State Department, during which they exchanged views on the political solution and the need to establish binding mechanisms for implementing international resolutions related to the Syrian issue.
On the other side, Assad’s special advisor, Bouthaina Shaaban, dismissed Erdogan’s announcement that Ankara is awaiting a response from Damascus regarding his meeting with Assad for normalization as another political maneuver with ulterior motives.
Shaaban, speaking during a lecture at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was reported by Turkish media on Thursday, stated that any rapprochement between the two countries is contingent on its withdrawal of forces from Syrian territory.