Finally the General People's Congress the ruling party in Yemen succeeded in causing the people to move decisively to convince President Ali Abdallah Saleh to go back on his decision not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election, scheduled for September. He announced this decision at the party conference held recently in Sanaa. But the members of the party extended their deliberations in the hope of changing his mind and persuading him to stand as the party's sole candidate.
But President Saleh maintained his decision, which caused the party's General Committee to threaten to resign in a body if the head of the state persisted in his negative stand, which caused dismay among the Yemeni people, hundreds of thousands of whom took to the streets. One and a half million persons assembled in Sanaa and other cities of the country chanting slogans in favor of maintaining the president at the summit of the pyramid to continue his action for the building of a modern, democratic system.
Face with the popular insistence and the growing pressure of the masses representing diverse political forces, the organizations of civil society, in addition to appeals from Yemenis living abroad, Arab and international organizations and heads of state who reiterated their confidence in President Saleh's person, the First Yemeni had no choice other than to agree to stand as a candidate for the Presidency.
Popular rejoicing
The popular masses received President Saleh's decision with great joy, expressed in giant demonstrations in which citizens of all ages and social conditions took part, freed from the anxiety that had gripped them at the prospect that President Saleh might step down from his office. It is worth noting in this context the unshakeable attachment of the Yemeni people and the depth and solidity that bind them to their leader, who since his accession to office has been distinguished by his modesty and nearness to ordinary people, the Yemeni people in their entirety, for whose benefit he has accomplished many achievements for the public good which have raised the standard of living of Yemenis in various sectors of the national life.
Since first being elected in 1978, by 75 percent of the members of the People's Assembly (Parliament), President Ali Abdallah Saleh has carried out numerous projects, which have won him the support and confidence of the whole Yemeni people.
Enjoying transcendent qualities like wisdom, courage and political acumen, thanks to which he has never ceased to place the first interest of the nation above all others. Renowned for his spirit of tolerance, his faith in the principles of dialogue, his sincerity, his loyalty to the nation and homeland, President Saleh has led his people on the path of progress and development in all spheres. Under his mandate, Yemen has witnessed strategic transformations and great achievements in all sectors and an economic and developmental renewal.
Accession to office in 1978
When President Saleh acceded to power in 1978, the country was living through difficult and dangerous times because of the chaos that characterized the various sectors of the national life and the cycle of violence which had set antagonistic political forces against one another. The conflicts had varied aspects, as in the northern province of Yemen, where acts of sabotage abounded and where armed confrontations showed the nature of the tensions that then marked relations between various factions.
All this turmoil and unease came to a head in 1974 with a military putsch led by Ibrahim el-Hamdi, who seized power and led the country for three years before being assassination in October 1977. He was succeeded by Major Ahmad el-Ghashmi, who was himself killed in June 1978 by a booby-trapped valise handed to him by an emissary of Salem Rabih, president of South Yemen.
That province witnessed a series of coups d'tat that led to a series of particularly bloody confrontations between the authorities and various factions of the social and Marxist system. This caused deep disquiet among Yemenis, who despaired of the future and feared that civil war might break out in the country.
Thanks to his wisdom, his farsightedness and the experience gained in the many positions in which he served before becoming head of state, President Saleh was able to pacify the country, putting an end to violence and armed conflict plaguing the country by the use of drastic measures which had the effect of restoring calm and stability.
Creation of a national dialogue committee
He also set up a national dialogue committee comprising representatives of various political forces in the country. The committee drew up a national pact which was subsequently approved by all parties. A general congress was also held whose delegates were elected by citizens of all regions of the country, who took part in a referendum to ratify the pact.
This congress became an established body, the General People's Congress, which is now the ruling party.
The other political forces were represented in it before being set up as independent parties after proclamation of the Yemeni union in May 1990.
President Saleh succeeded in calming the situation, putting an end to the troubles in the southern region through dialogue until the achievement of unity. Finally, in an atmosphere of optimism, he has continued the process of social, economic and cultural development. He has also made it an abiding objective of his policy to improve relations with fraternal and friendly countries on the basis of mutual respect. The Yemeni union, proclaimed on May 22, 1990, has been the greatest achievement of President Saleh, who strongly advocated unity since acceding to office. He has also promoted the participation of women in public and political life through elections.
Economic projects
Among the principal economic and industrial projects seen during his mandate are the discovery of oil and gas in 1984; the construction of the Maareb dam, a landmark achievement; the creation of a free zone at Aden, whose first phase was inaugurated in 1999, and which has cost 187 million dollars; and the program of financial and administrative reforms.
In the same way he has been able to resolve the internal crises that occur from time to time because of ignorance. These are in addition to achievements in the fields of health, education, communications, infrastructure, etc. Yemen has benefited as well on the regional and international scales from consolidation of its relations of cooperation and partnership with fraternal and friendly countries, in addition to settlement of frontier questions with neighboring countries, notably Saudi Arabia.
During President Saleh's time in office, Yemen has held to a balanced foreign policy based on transparency, dialogue and peaceful coexistence. This has enabled it to play an effective role in regional and international terms. Yemen now stands on the threshold of a new stage through its ambitious economic and development plans, in cooperation with its neighbors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its international partners.
Yemen is now preparing for two important international conferences which it will hold in cooperation with the general secretariat of the GCC, the result of Sanaa's policy of openness to its neighbors in the Gulf. The first conference is that of international donors to Yemen, to be held in London next November; the second, on investment opportunities in Yemen, is scheduled for February 2007. Observers believe that the success of these two conferences will contribute to the development of Yemen and to the solution of its economic problems.
© Monday Morning 2006
