President Saleh opens new military training year

HODEIDAH,(Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh opened on Sunday the new year of training and morale-raising for the Hodeidah military command of the northwestern military region. President Saleh addressed troops of the region saying he noticed a high spirit amongst the Hodeidah troops. “That reflects the wisdom of the command.” President Saleh said that for combatants high morale serve as 75% of the factors of victory in any battle. “I was here two years ago when I announced that 2001 would be the year of marines. The marines have been set up again in a modern standard and they are now efficiently serving in guarding our coastline which is longer than 2000 kilometers.” He said the reorganization of the marines could have been fulfilled less than ambitiously desired but “a matter-of-fact progress has really been made.” He highlighted the imperative of modern training as crucial for making the air forces and ground troops capable of performing combat missions with minimum causalities. Brig.Ali Mohsen Saleh, the Commander of the northwestern region had delivered a speech welcoming President Saleh. He said the armed forces under his command have made an excellent progress in test-mobilizing and test-performing operations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal inaugurated in Aden on Sunday the new combat training year in the Southern Military Region in the presence of Aden and Lahj governors, and the deputy chief of staff for supply affairs. Ba-Jammal delivered a speech conveying good wishes of President Saleh to the forces of the region on the new training year, 2004. He asserted the imperative of military training as demanding to ensure security and thereby the development for the country. He said that the conquest of the armed forces in their battle for unity rescued the national economy from “an entire collapse.” “The wise political leadership managed to rebuild a free economy, reduce unemployment and minimize financial deficit,” he said. Ba-Jammal pledged an improvement of the standard of living of military and security personnel. A military parade was held afterwards. AH/AA/NM/KM