Al-Aradah Meets EU and Dutch Ambassadors at the Conclusion of Their Visit to Marib

Vice president of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and Governor of Marib, Sultan Al-Aradah, presented commemorative shields to Patrick Simonnet, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Yemen, and Jeannette Seppen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Yemen, in recognition of their efforts to strengthen partnership and support for Yemen, at the conclusion of their visit to Marib Governorate.

Al-Aradah expressed his sincere appreciation to the EU Ambassador and the Dutch Ambassador for their visit to the governorate, voicing his hope for continued communication and more field visits of this kind. He said such visits are important for providing an accurate picture of the existing needs on the ground and enhancing opportunities for support and joint cooperation in a manner that serves development and stability in Marib in particular and Yemen as a whole.

He noted that the political leadership and the government are committed to strengthening partnership with the EU and international donors to expand areas of cooperation and support development and humanitarian response efforts. He praised the EU's supportive positions on various fronts and called on the EU and all international partners to expand their humanitarian and development interventions to enhance the capacity of relevant institutions to overcome challenges and meet the growing needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Yemen reaffirmed, in a press statement, the European Union's commitment to continuing its support for Yemen and further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation during the joint visit to Marib Governorate with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

He said the visit included a series of meetings with PLC VP and Marib Governor Sultan Al-Aradah, as well as officials, partners, and members of the local community. He noted that the visit reflects the commitment of the EU and the Netherlands to further developing relations with Yemen, particularly with Marib Governorate.

He added that the EU and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are proud to support a number of development projects in the governorate, reaffirming the EU's commitment to continuing its assistance to Yemen in the coming period in support of a better future for the country.

For her part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Yemen expressed her sincere appreciation to PLC VP and Marib Governor Sultan Al-Aradah for the warm welcome and generous hospitality. She also thanked the governorate's team and the people of Marib, both its long-time residents and the displaced people who have found a safe haven there.

She said the visit provided an important opportunity to observe the efforts of the local authority in managing the governorate and to meet with government officials, civil society organizations, journalists, as well as to visit Safer Company and meet with internally displaced people and migrants. She expressed admiration for the resilience of the people and their determination to rebuild their lives despite the difficult circumstances.

The ambassador affirmed that the EU and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are proud to contribute to supporting development and humanitarian response efforts in Marib. She said what she witnessed reflects the ability of the people of the governorate to persevere and work toward a peaceful future for Marib and Yemen as a whole.

She also expressed her hope to visit Marib again in the near future, noting that her predecessor last visited the governorate three and a half years ago, while her own previous visit had been thirty years earlier. She observed that Marib has undergone significant development and expressed her hope to return again to further strengthen cooperation and partnership.