26_September [Archives:2007/1116/Press Review]

archive
December 31 2007

Thursday, December 27
Top Stories

– President Saleh to meet Advisory Panel on Saturday to discuss his electoral platform

– Practical steps to complete studies on establishment of military housing fund

– Authorities finalize resolving land disputes in Aden

– U.S. News website selects President Saleh “Man of the Year”

– Assistant Chief of Taiz Security Department exposed to an ambush

– Yemen expends efforts to obtain membership at Arab Labor Organization

– NDI calls for supporting Saleh's constitutional amendments initiative

The weekly quoted Yemen News Agency, Saba, as saying that Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Peter Dimitroff called on Tuesday for supporting President Saleh's initiative for constitutional amendments, considering the move toward a presidential system a source of pride due to contest with systems in other democratic countries. “We are happy for these amendments and the call of president Saleh for dialogue with the other political parties and we agree with him that this will have a positive impact in improving the ruling system as well as the democratic process,” Dimitroff was quoted as saying.

NDI Country Director noted that these amendments will lead to reinforcing the importance and privilege of the parliament on contrary to fear of some people.

Regarding the democratic and parliamentary process in Yemen, Dimitroff said that it witnesses a remarkable progress and the NDI chose Yemen as a regional headquarters in four countries to benefit from its democratic experience.

He added that the Yemeni Parliament has taken an advanced step in issuing related legislations on fighting corruption and the continuous questioning of ministers, hoping that Parliament plays a major role in budgets and contacts with civil society organizations. Dimitroff gave a detailed explanation on work of the institute in the field of democracy on the count of politics, noting that the institute has been working in Yemen for 12 years and has four main programs to support Yemen's democratic development.
——
[archive-e:1116-v:15-y:2007-d:2007-12-31-p:press]