Yemen Threatens to Punish Shipping Companies Cooperating with Houthis

Shipping vessels in Hodeidah port (Reuters)
Shipping vessels in Hodeidah port (Reuters)
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Yemen Threatens to Punish Shipping Companies Cooperating with Houthis

Shipping vessels in Hodeidah port (Reuters)
Shipping vessels in Hodeidah port (Reuters)

The Yemeni government threatened to revoke the licenses and block any shipping company cooperating with the Houthi militia.

Ports of Aden Corporation sent a letter to two shipping companies, warning against shipping towards Hodeidah port, stressing that the two companies approval to divert their shipping routes to Hodeidah "is a clear and explicit violation of the directives of the legitimate government."

The letter warned it might cancel the permits granted to the companies, stopping their activities in the ports, noting that any navigational activity not approved by the legitimate government is a recognition of the coup militias.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik asserted the need to take all measures that preserve public funds and implement decisions regulating imports, consistent with the government's obligations in combating money laundering and financing terrorism.

Abdulmalik chaired the ministerial committee meeting in Aden to discuss economic developments and develop solutions to secure trade in land and sea ports.

According to the Saba news agency, the committee discussed the measures and decisions to facilitate imports.

The committee also reviewed the plans and procedures to regulate trade movement, which could facilitate and ensure ease of arrival of goods and reduce the cost of transportation and insurance in the ports of the liberated areas.

The committee stressed the need to take all procedures and measures to preserve public funds, implement government decisions regulating imports, and comply with the government's obligations in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

It emphasized taking the necessary steps to prevent transgressions or violations of local and international laws and mechanisms, including communicating with countries and export destinations.

According to the Yemeni official media, ministers briefed the committee on implementing previous decisions and the required mechanisms and procedures.

The Ministries of Transport and Trade denied any change in the ship's movement heading to Yemeni ports, including Hodeidah port, under the Houthi control.

They confirmed the ongoing coordination with the UN and the coalition supporting legitimacy of imposing the mechanisms.

Earlier, the Houthi militia claimed a change in the navigation movement heading to Hodeidah ports against the UN mechanism used to enter ships.

The Transport Minister, Abdulsalam Hameed, confirmed that the ship's movement to the ports in liberated areas and Aden had stayed the same.

Hameed assured major merchants, importers, and shipping companies there were solutions to the difficulties facing trade activity and organizing transportation of the goods according to the regulatory frameworks.

The government is in full coordination with the UN and the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, asserted the minister, accusing the militias of spreading lies.

He vowed that the government and its competent agencies would take all legal measures against commercial ships, cargo owners, and navigational agencies that violate the law and the mechanisms.



Egypt, Czech Republic to Enhance Military Cooperation

Egyptian Commander of the Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad during his meeting with officials from the Czech armed forces (Egyptian army spokesperson)
Egyptian Commander of the Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad during his meeting with officials from the Czech armed forces (Egyptian army spokesperson)
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Egypt, Czech Republic to Enhance Military Cooperation

Egyptian Commander of the Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad during his meeting with officials from the Czech armed forces (Egyptian army spokesperson)
Egyptian Commander of the Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad during his meeting with officials from the Czech armed forces (Egyptian army spokesperson)

Egypt and the Czech Republic on Saturday agreed to boost cooperation and exchange expertise between the two countries’ air forces.

The statement came during the visit of Egyptian Commander of the Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad to the Czech Republic, where he held meetings with officials of the armed forces to discuss boosting aspects of military cooperation.

“The visit comes within the framework of the keenness of the General Command of the Armed Forces to promote military cooperation fields with sisterly and friendly countries,” according to the Egyptian army spokesperson.

Abdel Gawad met with Commander of Czech Air Force Petr Cepelka and First Deputy of Czech Defense Minister Frantisek Sulc.

The meetings tackled the strength and depth of the Egyptian-Czech relations and the importance of boosting aspects of cooperation and exchanging expertise between the Egyptian and Czech air forces in the coming period, the spokesperson said.

Abdel Gawad also met with Deputy Foreign Minister Jiri Kozak. They agreed on boosting aspects of strategic partnership between their countries’ air forces, in addition to opening new cooperation horizons in the field of aviation industry.

The Egyptian Commander then visited the premises of the Czech aircraft company of Aero Vodochody. He said both sides are sharing viewpoints on a number of issues of mutual interest.

On Tuesday, Egyptian Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib discussed with Czech Ambassador in Cairo Ivan Jukl ways of fostering economic and trade cooperation between Egypt and the Czech Republic.
Khatib highlighted the depth of relations, underlining the importance of increasing joint investments and establishing partnerships between the public and private sectors in both countries.

The Minister said he plans to visit the Czech Republic soon along with an official delegation that comprises representatives of the Egyptian business community, to inform the Czech side about the recent reforms aimed at improving the business climate in Egypt.

For his part, the Czech ambassador expressed his country's willingness to share experience with Egypt in bringing about economic and institutional transformation, reducing unemployment rates and supporting innovation and technology.

“Egypt enjoys competitive advantages, citing the tax policy that helps the country to be an attractive destination for non-labor-intensive investments, noting Czech companies seek to expand their presence in promising markets, such as Egypt,” Jukl said.

The two sides then agreed on activating the joint business council and holding a forum bringing together business representatives from the public and private sectors in both countries to strengthen investment partnerships and expand bilateral cooperation.