Turkey extends visa-free regime to Yemen

On the occasion of the first-ever presidential level visit from Turkey to Yemen , the two countries have secured cooperation through the signing of several bilateral agreements, including one to abolish visa requirements between the two nations. President Abdullah Gul's two-day visit, which ended yesterday, came as Yemen is facing a series of major threats, including rising al-Qaeda militancy spreading beyond its borders, violence from southern secessionists, and sporadic clashes with Shiite rebels. "The fight against terrorism is a shared problem for the world," Gul told a press conference in Sana'a alongside his Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Anatolia news agency reported. "International cooperation is very important in this matter. Turkey will stand with Yemen on this issue." He added, " Turkey will continue making a wide range of kinds of contributions to Yemen 's democratic and economic development." Gul said Ankara has been closely following the reforms implemented by Yemen , apparently referring to reforms aimed at addressing the prospect of lower oil revenues while boosting public investment and social spending.