Political relations between the Yemen Arab Republic and Middle East countries

This file concerns the Yemen Arab Republic’s (YAR) relations with the Arab world. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The expulsion of the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires from the YAR
• YAR President Ali Abdulla Saleh’s visits to the Gulf including to Bahrain, Jordan, and the UAE to raise funds and YAR press speculation that the tour represents a bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
• The question of unification with the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY)
• President Saleh’s visit to Iraq, the YAR’s readiness to support Iraq in the war against Iran and the recruitment and despatch of Yemeni military volunteers to fight against Iran
• Saudi Arabian acquiescence to King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan’s request to send retired Jordanian army officers to serve with the YAR armed forces
• The implications of the visit of the Secretary General of the National Democratic Front (Yemen) Sultan Ahmad Omar to Syria upon YAR-Syria relations
• Iraqi trade and loans to the YAR and the possibility of Iraq establishing a trade centre at Al Hudayda
• The difficulties experienced by British consultants in qualifying for involvement with Saudi development assistance to the YAR
• The visit of YAR Prime Minister Abdul Karim Ali Al Iryani to Saudi Arabia
• The YAR's desire to coordinate with Oman in mediation with the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY)
• The visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohammad Murghani Mubarak
• The speech of the YAR Foreign Minister Ali Lufti Al Tawr at the UN General Assembly
• The dispute concerning the inclusion of a Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) representative in the Arab League delegation visiting London
• Proposals for the PLO and President Saleh to mediate in the conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia.