By ARAB NEWS
JAZAN: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Tuesday emphasized the deep-rooted relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. "The security of the two countries is inseparable," he said, adding that Riyadh would continue to work with Sanaa to realize the interests of the two neighbors.
Addressing the armed forces stationed along the Kingdom's southern border, Prince Sultan commended the high fighting capabilities and skills displayed by Saudi soldiers during their war with Yemeni infiltrators over the past three months. "You have fought like heroes and excelled in your military tactics".
Prince Sultan praised the exemplary bravery displayed by Saudi forces to defend the Kingdom and drive away intruders. "The Saudi leadership and people are proud of you," the crown prince told soldiers. He said the Kingdom would remain strong as long as it abides by the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Prince Sultan announced a donation of SR50 million for armed forces stationed along the border in Jazan.
The crown prince said the attack by Yemeni infiltrators against the Kingdom was unexpected in light of the strong relations between the two countries and peoples. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh recently visited Saudi Arabia and was given a warm welcome by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. It was followed by a meeting of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council in Riyadh.
"This reflects the deep-rooted relations and the conspirators and agitators will not be able to harm these ties," Prince Sultan said.
Earlier on arrival at the site, the crown prince was received by Jazan Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Nasser, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs, Maj. Gen. Prince Khaled bin Bander, deputy commander of the land forces, Chief of Staff Gen. Saleh Al-Mahya and Maj. Gen. Ali Khawaji, commander of the southern region.
Addressing the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Hussein Al-Maalawi, commander of the Jazan forces, thanked Prince Sultan for visiting the armed forces. He said King Abdullah, the supreme commander of the armed forces, had previously visited the forces and expressed his solidarity with Saudi soldiers. King Abdullah then ordered SR1 million be given to each of the families of soldiers killed during the fighting.
Prince Sultan also ordered special assistance to families of the dead and injured soldiers.
In a previous statement, Prince Khaled bin Sultan called on Sanaa to deploy its armed forces along the country's northern border to prevent Yemenis from infiltrating into the Kingdom. He said the Kingdom would continue to deploy forces along its southern border to protect the country from intruders.
The prince said the truce between the Yemeni government and the rebels was Yemen's internal affair. "Saudi Arabia's demands are clear to everybody," he said, adding that Riyadh would not talk to the rebels. "We'll not talk to any other party except through the Yemeni government," Prince Khaled said.
Saudi forces detained 1,500 Yemenis during the fighting in which 109 Saudi soldiers were killed. He said no foreign troops were involved in the fight. "We have not even consulted foreign military experts. It is a war led by the Saudi leadership," he added.
Arab News
