Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed affirms UAE support for Yemen's presidential council

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince holds with Gen Al Alimi, the new presidential council's chairman

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, meets Rashad Al Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, at the Sea Palace in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed greets Aidarous Al Zubaidi, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen.

Members of the Yemeni delegation attend the meeting.

The leaders exchanged Eid Al Fitr greetings and Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Mr Al Alimi on assuming the leadership of Yemen.

Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the UAE's support for the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, as it sets out to ensure the stability and security of Yemen.

Mr Al Alimi thanked the UAE for its continuous support to the Yemeni people in various fields.

The UAE supports efforts by Yemen's new presidential council to bring stability and security to the country, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has said.

Sheikh Mohamed met Gen Rashad Al Alimi, Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, at the Sea Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

They spoke about bilateral relations and regional and global issues of mutual interest, state news agency Wam reported.

The Emirates will "spare no effort to provide all possible support to brotherly Yemen at all levels", Sheikh Mohamed told Mr Al Alimi, as he highlighted the historical relations uniting the two nations.

Mr Al Alimi assumed the presidency of the eight-member council after its creation last month, after Yemeni political consultations in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on ways to end the country's seven-year civil war.

The council, which took over power from long-serving president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, was sworn in on April 19.

Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Mr Al Alimi on assuming the leadership of Yemen. He also wished him success in serving his country and its people amid the difficult circumstances it is going through, so as to move towards stability and peace, Wam said.

Mr Al Alimi thanked Sheikh Mohamed for the warm reception and the UAE for its continuing support to the Yemeni people.

The two leaders also exchanged greetings for Eid Al Fitr.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun, Adviser for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; and Ali Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Council, were also present at the meeting.

Mr Al Alimi's visit to the UAE follows a meeting with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Jeddah on Thursday.

Sheikh Mohamed also received the new Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

They discussed ways to grow relations between the two countries, opportunities to expand co-operation in various fields, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, Wam reported.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, said the meetings with Mr Alimi and Mr Sharif were examples of the "active diplomatic movement" led by Sheikh Mohamed during Ramadan to "enhance consultation and co-ordination and ensure the stability and future of the region".

"The UAE’s central political and developmental position, the wisdom of its leadership and its transparency with brothers and friends, which is embodied by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, are at the heart of the continuity of goodness led by His Highness in the belief that the key to security and prosperity lies in the hands of the countries of the region," Dr Gargash said in a post on Twitter.

Dr Gargash on Saturday also praised the visit by Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Saudi Arabia as a positive step for the region.