July 5, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 4,1424

RIYADH, July 4: Indicating new levels of coordination, the Yemeni minister of foreign affairs vowed in Sana’a before the start of the 15th session of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council, due to begin on Saturday, that Saudi Arabia and Yemen were partners in the fight against terrorism.

This statement is significant in view of the fact that the southern part of Saudi Arabia, neighbouring Yemen, is very much in the news there days. A security incident is reported from the border almost daily. Most of the suspects of the May 12 Riyadh bombings were nabbed or killed in that remote region.

It seems the porous border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen is becoming a source of major concern for the two governments. Reports indicate that more than 381,900 infiltrators were arrested during the 11 months ending February.

The Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council is expected to discuss 16 agreements of cooperation and also a memorandum of understanding, which would cover all aspects of political, economic, and security cooperation.