[06/04/2026 02:04]

ANTALYA – SABA
Minister of Youth and Sports Naif Al-Bakri discussed Monday with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Degtyarev ways to strengthen joint cooperation between the two friendly countries and develop bilateral relations in the fields of youth and sport.

During the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 8th Traditional Sports Forum convened in the Turkish city of Antalya, the two sides agreed to prepare a joint cooperation protocol. The protocol will include a package of programs in the areas of training and qualification, sports medicine, youth capacity development, provision of technical consultations, as well as sports infrastructure projects. It is expected to be signed later in the Russian Federation.

During the meeting, Minister al-Bakri praised the strong historical relations between Yemen and Russia, noting that they are well-established ties based on cooperation and fruitful partnership across various fields, including the youth and sports sectors.

Al-Bakri also commended Russia’s prominent role in supporting Yemen, particularly in the sports and youth sectors. This support has been reflected in the dispatch of a number of qualified coaches to Yemeni clubs since the late 1980s in several sports, most notably football.

He further expressed the Ministry’s aspiration in the coming phase to expand cooperation with the Russian side in a way that contributes to training and qualifying youth, developing the capacities of personnel working in sports medicine, and enhancing the overall level of sports in Yemen.

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