17 July a memorable day in Yemen history [Archives:2003/651/Opinion]

By Abdulla Hussein Brakat
Shoura Council member
Undoubtedly, the talk on 17 July 1978 is a long one because it is an important event in the history of the people of Yemen. On that day president Ali Abdulla Saleh was elected by the constituent people's council as a president of the republic. That day was the dividing line between the chaos that preceded that event and a key for the political and democratic march and an introduction for political and security stability. On that day president Ali Abdulla Saleh assumed his power and all are aware of the difficult circumstances the country was experiencing and nevertheless he had shouldered the responsibility courageously.
Politically and democratically the lection of president Saleh by the people's council represented a democratic action confirming that the president did not come to power atop a tank but by being elected by the people's representatives. It was thus a step indicating a good democratic initiative. The first thing this leader had done was the formation of committee for national dialogue, composed of all parts of the political spectrum, scientists and all segments of the people and the draft charter was submitted to the people for referendum . The national charter was later considered a document that represented the essence of experiences, thoughts, hopes and ambitions of the Yemenis in democracy, freedom and political and security stability. The charter has defined the national constants he most important of which was the achievement of the Yemeni unity. In the light of the charter the General People's Congress was founded in 1982 as a political organization and an extension of the national movement, and thus realizing expectations of the masses in revolution, unity and democracy.
After the war of 1979 the president worked for establishing closer ties with the former southern part of the country as a beginning of restoring the unity of Yemen. The Taiz meting was held in 1981 between the president and Ali Nasser Mohammed where the two presidents had formed the higher council and formed joint ministerial committees and joint projects. The meetings continued till the Aden agreement in November 1989 when an organization for the transitional period was declared between the two sides in April 1990 and then the Yemeni reunification was declared on May 22, 1990.
The 22nd of May 1990 represented the most important event in Yemen's modern history and rather the Arab history. The Yemeni unity was restored in a democratic way and an understanding between the political leaderships of the former two parts of the country and then there was the referendum on the constitution of he republic of Yemen on 15 and 16 of May 1992 and the constitution and unity were then became property of the people of Yemen.
The constitution has organically connected between unity and democracy and political pluralism. Political parties began practicing their organization publicly exercising their political rights in a democratic way. On May 22, 1990 the world congratulated the people of Yemen on this blessed step and under the unity many other steps were taken in various fields, the more significant of which are:
– the border treaty between Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
-the border agreement with Oman,
-verdict of the international court of justice on Yemen's right to the island of Hunaish and Hunaish Archipelago.
With these agreements Yemen has confirmed its keenness on good neighborly relations and the realization of security, economic and cultural cooperation and also cooperation in international forums.
The Yemeni attention paid to the infrastructures such as roads, ports and airports and basic structures has facilitated the process of economic building and expansion in health, electric and other services in all areas. He state worked hard for overcoming the economic deterioration caused by the secessionist attempt after the reunification. Since 1995 the state embarked on the economic, administrative and monetary reform. Thus the reality of democratic life our country is living on the basis of political pluralism has become a civilized conduct we boast of in the light of the national constants.
No doubt he president Ali Abdulla Saleh is the man who has understood his people and adhered to them, preserved their interests and achieved their ambitions and aspirations.

Translated from 26 September weekly
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