Dr. Saleh al-Haj, Director of the Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Authority (FAEA) of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), received today, Monday, at the headquarters of FAEA in the capital, Aden, Mr. Constantin Grund, Director of the Yemen and Sudan Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), to follow up on prospects for deepening cooperation between the STC and the foundation.



At the meeting, which was attended by Mr. Anis Al-Sharafi, Deputy Director of FAEA, Dr. Al-Haj conveyed the greetings of President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, President of the STC, and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), reiterating the STC's welcome to the work of German and international institutions in the South and deepening its partnership with them, especially the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and its keenness to facilitate its work and provide all possible assistance to support its participation in driving the economic and social development process.



Dr. Al-Haj praised the role played by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in building capacities and strengthening civil society organizations, training young people, well-preparing leaders, and qualifying cadres working in different sectors.



The meeting also reviewed the difficult humanitarian, economic, living, and service conditions that the governorates of the South are going through, in addition to the developments in security, regional, and international conditions and their repercussions on the peace process and the economic and security situation in the country.



Al-Haj pointed out that the Houthi terrorist militia has today become an extremely serious threat to security and peace and noted that the Houthis' threats to maritime navigation have doubled the suffering of citizens, in addition to threatening international security and peace.



For his part, Mr. Constantin Grund reviewed the Foundation's fields of work and interest, highlighting the great attention it pays to the fields of development, training, and strategy building, and expressing his happiness and appreciation for the cooperation of the STC and its interest in facilitating the work of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in the governorates of the South.



The meeting was attended by the Director of the International Organizations and Human Rights Department, Dr. Najib Qayd, and from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, acting non-resident representative and senior program director of the foundation, Mr. Mahmoud Qayyah, and the foundation's women and youth programs director, Ms. Mayada al-Baydani.