Abdulkareem al-Arhabi (C), Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister for economy, planning and international cooperation, speaks with Arab Gulf officials in Riyadh February 27, 2010. Yemen on Saturday said joining the wealthier Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc was as important as international aid to achieving regional security. "Yemen is totally convinced that its integration within the GCC and boosting its development partnership with the donors... Represent one of the most important means... to enable Yemen to contribute in consolidating regional and international security and stability," said al-Arhabi. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: POLITICS)