Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, I'm glad that you have made this official visit and that we have an opportunity to discuss the current state and prospects of Russian-Yemeni dialogue.

On behalf of our Government, I'd like to wish you, your Government and all those who are involved in important decision-making success in your reforms and efforts to consolidate your country's statehood.

We hope for stronger economic cooperation with the Republic of Yemen. We also hope to continue our productive dialogue and restore contacts on all issues, including the operation of companies and cooperation in all areas, in particular, military-technical and humanitarian ties.

It's been a pleasure meeting you, and I wish you every success in leading the Republic of Yemen.

Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi (via interpreter): Thank you, Your Excellence! We consider this visit to the Russian Federation a visit of gratitude to the Russian leadership for its stance in support of Yemen. Along with the positions of other Security Council members, this stance encouraged us to adopt and later implement the initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Owing to Russia's position, the Security Council adopted two resolutions – 2014 and 2051 – that played a decisive role in helping us avoid a civil war.

It is no secret that a civil war in Yemen would have been a huge problem for many states in the region because our people possess a considerable amount of weapons, our society has a very complex tribal structure and we are strategically located in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.