President: Yemen Unity is great event in contemporary history
ANA’A, Mar. 23 (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that Yemeni Unity is great event in the Yemeni contemporary history and also on the regional and international level.
In an interview with Abu-Dhabi Satellite Channel, president Saleh said that Yemen witnessed big changes in economic, political, security, social fields, adding “to talk about those changes we need longer time than the time of the interview.”
He said that the biggest achievement in the contemporary history was the unification of former north and south.
Asked about amnesty for people involved in 1994’s war, president Saleh said that the decision of amnesty was not taken lonely but said it was approved by all different Yemeni leaderships to serve the unity of the nation.
Regarding rebellion in Saada governorate, president confirmed that the people of Saada do not support the rebels who try to change the republican system into the past Imam ruling.
The rebellion was supported by a group of deceived people. We appointed a new governor who has experience and could tackle impacts resulted from rebellion in the governorate, he said.
The rebellion was over, he said, expressing hope such thing will not be repeated.
Asked about relations between Yemen and Gulf countries, president said that Yemen has good relations with all Gulf states, pointing out to the fund of qualifying Yemen to be member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. He also indicated that UAE funds many developmental projects in Yemen.
Regarding the coming Arab summit in Khartoum, president Saleh expressed hope that the summit would come out with positive decisions even at “40 % or 50 %” to meet ambitions of the Arab nations.
“God willing, there will be no obstacle prevents me to head Yemeni delegation in the summit, he said.
Regarding the current situation in Iraq and Palestine, president Saleh called Iraqis to unify their efforts to make solutions for all their problems, saying that the international community has to respect the will and choice of the Palestinian people after Hamas victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections.
Asked about the international pressure on Syria and on Iran over its nuclear file, president Saleh pointed out to the positive cooperation that Syrian offers with the investigation committee on the case of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, saying that the Syrian cooperation contributed to reducing that pressure.
He said that the Yemeni stance over Iranian nuclear file was clear as Yemen supports the right of Iran to possess nuclear energy for peaceful uses under international monitoring.
He also said that the international community has to practice the same pressure on Israel that has unclear file too.
Regarding fighting terror, president Saleh said Yemen like other world countries call for defining “terrorism” and differing between terror and the right of people in resisting occupation.
” Struggle of peoples against occupation from our viewpoint is a legal right, not terror, such as struggling of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation, he said
Asked about Yemeni detainees in Guantanamo, president Saleh said” the United States has informed us that it would hand over unidentified number of detainees.
He said that Yemen and United States have good relations, pointing out to the security cooperation between the two countries in fighting terror.
About the recent US report over human rights, president confirmed that there are not breaches against human rights laws in Yemen, saying that Yemen’law protects human rights.
Asked about reform inside the organization of the United Nations, president Saleh said it should be reformed to cope with the current international changes, saying that the right of Veto should be expanded, not only for five countries, it should be granted for other active world countries.
AH/NS
SABA