President arrives in Sana

SANA—President General Pervez Musharraf arrived Sunday afternoon to a warm welcome for a three-day visit to Yemen, the first bilateral visit between the two nations in the last 15 years. Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh received the President at the airport. A 21-gun saluted boomed as the President alighted form his special plane.
President Musharraf reviewed guard of honour presented by a Yemeni national contingent. The national anthems of the two countries were played. The President is accompanied by the First Lady. The delegation includes Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister of State for Petroleum Naseer Mengal, members of parliament, foreign secretary and senior officials.
During his three day visit, the President will hold talks with the leaders of the Arab nation on bolstering bilateral political ties and discuss reform of the Organization of Islamic Conference. The talks will also cover regional and international issues of common interest including the Middle East and efforts to stamp out extremism and terrorism in their long-term perspectives. Pakistan’s relations with Yemen are warm and friendly and there is a considerable goodwill for Pakistan among Yemenis. The visit by the Pakistani leader will afford an opportunity to expand economic relationship with Yemen.—Agencies