Aden (Debriefer) - Advisor to the Yemeni information and tourism minister on Thursday accused the United Arab Emirates of fringing the sovereignty of his war-torn country by brining foreign tourists to Socotra island without official government consent.
"The Emiratis have issued visas for foreign tourists with variable nationalities to [visit] Socotra without consulting or asking the approval of the Yemeni government," Mukhtar al-Rahabi said.
It is not unlikely that the UAE brought also Israeli tourists to the Yemeni archipelago, he told the Anadolu Agency.
"An Emirati-backed militia has been dominating Socotra for one year, and skies, sea and State's institutions are now under its control," the Yemeni official added.
"The Yemeni government has clear position disallowing the entry of any foreigner to the country without permission and applicable measures."
Rahabi dismissed Emirati practices as blatant insult against the Yemeni sovereignty, vowing that the UAE would be internationally litigated over "these crimes".
