U.S. officials have said that the Obama administration is working on the ways to harmonize U.S. military and developmental aid to Yemen in an effort to limit the recruitment of Yemeni people by Islamists.
The U.S. Defense Ministry is working with State Department and the USAID on a program targeting the Yemeni youth, particularly those living in countryside and tribal regions, in hope hopes that economic development would help reduce the popularity of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, of below-15-years-old loyalists by 50 percent, they added.
The announcement came as the U.S. said that the Yemeni government is incompetent and does not enjoy sufficient influence out of largely-populated areas, with Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups taking advantages of the situation.
U.S. Intelligence estimates active Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen at hundreds, expressing fears Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula, declared early last year after Al-Qaeda wings in Yemen and Saudi Arabia merged, is not only a regional threat but also a threat to the world's security.
The United States of America has also hailed Yemen's efforts to face Al-Qaeda, saying it has already found a specific Yemeni commitment to fighting terror in Arabian Peninsula, pointing to recent military operations against terrorist hideouts and training sites.
Moreover, the U.S. is seeking most effective relations with Yemen in the best interest of both states, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, affirming the U.S. is not only concerned about extremists but also focusing on development-related problems.
As the praised terror effort by Yemen, the U.S. also likes to concrete steps towards development, she said, as it stressed the importance of the U.S. focusing on a most effective strategy to help Yemen boost national economy.
The remarks were given in a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi in Washington who concluded a U.S. trip on Friday on which he held meetings with many officials there focused on the bilateral relationship and issues of mutual interest.
During the conference, Al-Qirbi reiterated Yemen's commitment to fighting Al-Qaeda and continuing the efforts to boost development, at a time when security authorities are intensifying the war on Al-Qaeda suspects across the republic.
We are satisfied with the aid from the U.S. and other donors to face Yemen's challenges, mainly economic ones, he said, appreciating the understanding of the U.S. of the situation in Yemen.
What Yemen really needs from the U.S. is that the country contributes to building up the capabilities of national anti-terror forces through training them well and providing necessary equipment to face terror, he said.
Al-Qaeda in Yemen is under control of authorities, he said, dismissing reports a U.S. military intervention to face reportedly increasing Al-Qaeda threat would be possible.
He also touched upon a British-host conference on Yemen set for January 28 in London, saying Yemen hopes the summit runs in the best interest of the Yemeni people with donors avoiding past errors.
He spoke of development strides, pointing to economic reforms and solid decisions made by the government and blaming scarce national resources for the absent of further reforms.
The delay of releasing aid by donors was also a reason for what Yemen is economically experiencing now, he said, affirming the delay was not triggered by reportedly Yemen's failure but came under mechanisms of donors for giving aid to Yemen.