Alan meets Nobel Prize Winner
19 December 2011
On Thursday 15th December Alan and Foreign Secretary William Hague met Tawakul Karman, this year’s co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and prominent Yemeni journalist turned activist.
Yemen continues to suffer from political instability, poverty and a lack of infrastructure and has been a key focus for the Department for International Development during the Arab uprisings.
Ms Karman came to prominence during the Arab Spring and is the youngest ever Nobel Laureate and the first Arab woman to receive the accolade.
Speaking after the meeting, Alan said: ‘I raised the grave and continuing humanitarian and development challenges facing Yemen with Ms Karman. I also emphasised the UK’s ongoing commitment to helping poor and vulnerable Yemenis who have suffered as a result of months of instability and conflict and discussed how best to represent and address the future needs of all sections of Yemeni society."
Photo: Crown Copyright. Alan with Tawakul Karman and Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt.