ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Yemen's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi met in Sana'a, Yemen on Saturday.
During the joint press conference after the meeting, Davutoglu called for a cease fire in Syria during Eid al-Adha, saying, "we have hopes for a cease fire during Eid al-Adha for our Syrian brothers to have a relief."
Recalling that a democratic change process was occurring in the region, Davutoglu said that Syrian people, too, had the right to have a government they elected by their own will.
We think Yemen is a very good example in such a transition period, said Davutoglu, adding that Turkey would continue to work together with regional countries including Yemen in order to meet the rightful demands of Syrian people.
Turkey is supporting Yemen in its transition period, said Davutoglu, adding that if this process was completed successfully, it would be a good example for the new democracies in the region.
Davutoglu said that all Yemeni people should make an active contribution in the national dialogue process in the country and work together for territorial integrity and prosperity of their country.
Recalling that Turkey committed to provide 100 million USD to Yemen, Davutoglu said that this assistance would create new business opportunities and employment for Yemeni people.
Noting that he was visiting Yemen with 150 Turkish businessmen, Davutoglu said, "we encourage our businessmen to make investments in Yemen."
He said that Turkey was planning to set up an organized industrial zone in Hudaydah city of Yemen, and added that TIKA would pursue many economic development programmes in Yemen. Davutoglu said that Turkish Airlines (THY) began flights also to Aden in October, besides its flights to Sana'a.
We are determined to carry our economic relations to the highest level, said Davutoglu, expressing belief that foreign trade volume, which had been 320 million USD in 2011, would exceed 400 million USD soon.
Meanwhile, Qirbi said that Turkey extended support to development programmes and projects in Yemen, adding that they took up development, economic and political cooperation and regional matters during their meeting.
Regarding Syria issue, Qirbi said that they hoped a cease fire would be made during Eid al-Adha and it would continue later too.
Qirbi said that the situation in Syria was neither Islamic nor humanitarian or national.
Yemeni prime minister: we are proud of Turkey as a regional power
Yemen's Prime Minister Muhammad Salim Ba-Sindwah said that Yemen was proud of Turkey as a regional power, expressing hope Turkey would also be an international power soon.
Speaking at Turkey-Yemen Business Forum, Sindwah thanked Turkey for the attitude it assumed about Arab Spring revolutions, and said that Turkey treated at least 150 Yemeni citizens, and sent two ambulances to Yemen and committed to set up a field hospital.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who also attended the forum, said that high-level political dialogue between Turkey and Yemen would continue, adding that Turkey would do its best to restore the political stability of Yemen.
Davutoglu called on Turkish businessmen to make investment in Yemen, and also said that all doors were open for Yemeni businessmen in Turkey.
Turkish fm meets Nobel Prize recipient Karman in Yemen
Davutoglu met Yemeni journalist and activist Tawakul Karman, who is also the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, in Sana'a on Saturday.
Davutoglu and Karman met over a dinner at Turkish Embassy residence.
On October 11, Karman, whose roots go back to the Turkish province of Karaman, received Turkish citizenship.
Karman is the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Davutoglu visits cemetery of Turkish martyrs
Davutoglu visited cemetery of Turkish martyrs in Yemeni capital Sana'a on Sunday.
Davutoglu laid a wreath on the cemetery, and said that Turks considered many other lands in the world as their own land, and fought for justice and honor on those lands.
Davutoglu said that there were nearly 300,000 Turkish soldiers died in Yemen in the history.
He recalled that Yemen and Turkey had 400 years of common history.
