WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday told Yemen's foreign minister the United States will help foster economic development and battle terrorism in Yemen.
"Our two nations are working together as partners to improve Yemen's capacity to deliver vital services, control its borders, conduct effective counterterrorist activities, improve services to the people of Yemen," Clinton said at a news conference with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi.
She said the United States and Yemen face a "common threat from those violent extremists who target civilians without mercy or remorse" and singled out al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, an al-Qaida affiliate that U.S. officials say armed and trained the Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day.
Clinton said the U.S. Agency for International Development had agreed to provide Yemen $121 million in aid.
"The success of this investment depends upon Yemen's ability to make the tough choices necessary to improve the capacity to govern, to reform its economy, to protect human rights, to combat corruption and create a better environment for business and investment," she said.
Al-Qirbi said he stressed during his meeting with Clinton Yemen's commitment to fighting terrorism.
"What we need is really to build the capabilities of our counterterrorism units, make them more effective, train them, provide them with the equipment, and they will do the job," he said. "And this will be to the benefit of both countries with less problems and less cost."
He also pointed to the need for aid for development in the impoverished country.
Earlier Thursday, al-Qirbi announced Yemen would tighten visa restrictions for people who want to come to the country. Instead of getting visas at the country's border, those who want to enter Yemen now must apply for visas at a Yemeni embassy, and applicants "will be thoroughly vetted and checked to ensure no terrorists or militants slip into the country," Mohammed Albasha, a spokesman for Yemen's Embassy in Washington, told CNN.
Albasha said the Christmas Day bombing attempt prompted the change in visa policy.
