Yemen Times Chief Editor to Al-Tariq Newspaper:  “I wanted to prove to the readers and to the world that Yemen Times is too strong to disappear or weaken. I am proud to say that I have succeeded…” [Archives:1999/37/Interview]

All partisans and friends of the late, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf and of Yemen Times put their hands on their hearts at this sudden and painful death. Walid Al-Saqqaf, the eldest son of the late Dr. Al-Saqqaf took over the establishment and despite grief, sorrow and shock; faced all challenges and succeeded in issuing the Yemen Times only 4 days after the death of its establisher, some people didn’t expect that. Walid Al-Saqqaf, proceeded and was able to issue a Yemen Times bulletin for 5 consecutive days, in addition to the weekly edition to cover the activities of; The Forum of Growing Democracies, which was held in Sana’a, last June. 
Al-Tariq interviewed Walid al-Saqqaf, and here were his answers: 
Al-Tariq: Readers have noticed that the Yemen Times has developed technically, editorially and in production, all while having the ability to cope with the news. Was this a part of your father’s ambitions that you are starting to implement? Also, to what do you attribute the change? 
Walid Al-Saqqaf: As I indicated in my first editorial, I see that Yemen Times is a strong establishment based on the values and principles of the late martyr, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. Its foundations are firm and deep-rooted. My efforts and those of other employees of the Yemen Times are a continuation to those began by the Late. He is not missed only by us at the Yemen Times; he is missed by the whole country. We are working at Yemen Times in unison, in order to crown the job and accomplishments of my late father, may peace be upon him. I wanted to prove to the readers and to the world that Yemen Times is too strong to disappear or weaken. I am proud to say that I have succeeded. My father had wanted to make these improvements, and we are proud for accomplishing them. We want to stress that this great establishment shall continue to be devoted to the same values and principles of the late, and shall continue to excel. My father had always pushed for human rights and democracy, as well as free and true rights of expression. For Yemen Times to continue to excel, has proved wrong those who thought it will vanish. The Yemen Times was issued the first Monday that followed the death of my father, and the future shall testify that it shall continue on that line and level, whatever hurdles it has to overcome. 
Al-Tariq: Yemen Times, under your leadership, has succeeded, and proved itself as an active press presence during the Forum for Growing Democracies, organized last June in Sana’a. It was published daily during the Forum. Have you thought about publishing Yemen Times daily? 
Walid Al-Saqqaf: Everybody knows that when my father was martyred, he was working on this forum. The idea was his, contrary to what is claimed by some. He had great hope in the success of the Forum for Growing Democracies, and it was he who decided that Yemen Times shall issue a daily bulletin during the forum days. He took this decision, in agreement with the National Democratic Institute that was organizing the Forum. After my father’s painful death, I decided to devote all possible efforts, in order to realize the aims that my father was trying to fulfill. It was a strong and difficult challenge for me and for the Yemen Times. 
Some of the employees at Yemen Times and friends had other thoughts. They feared that we might find it impossible to produce the Yemen Times, and I had to encourage them and to lift their morals. During the Forum for Growing Democracies we used to stay all night working until the early morning, and to wake up and continue our work in the morning. Whenever I remember those efforts and our success in issuing fire bulletins, not only three as my father had hoped, I feel that my father is looking happily upon us from his high location in paradise, convinced that what he started continues and is not provisional. Those daily issues made me think of producing Yemen Times twice weekly, and to prepare for a daily publication later. I want to remind everybody that this was one of my fathers greatest hopes; and I am ready to sacrifice anything to realize this hope of my father. 
Al-Tariq: Your father thought also about printing the Yemen Times in London and New York simultaneously. What about that? 
Walid Al-Saqqaf: Yemen Times is actively present on the Internet. It is now the most read Yemeni journal on the World Wide Web, and is considered by many abroad as the face of Yemen, and can reach any home. It appears on the web before hitting the stores in Yemen. We don’t think about printing abroad, but we are studying an agreement with a currier company to deliver Yemen Times to Dubai, London and New York, with 3 days, as a maximum. 
Al-Tariq: One of the accomplishments of your late father was the establishment of the Yemen 21 Century Forum, as the most outstanding cultural and scientific establishment in Yemen. The activities of this Forum stopped shortly after its inauguration, after your father died. Anything about it? 
Walid Al-Saqqaf: My father had a wide range of contacts and activities in the university and the Consultative Council. It was natural for the activities at the forum to stop for sometime after my father’s death. However, the forum shall regain its activity. Within a short time, it shall be active by the cooperation of all its members, and shall continue supporting and strengthening the local NGOs that are working on human rights and liberties. These are the objects for which the forum was established. The Forum shall start its first activity within the next few months, which shall be the symposium on informatics. 
Al-Tariq: Your father had an idea of a broadcasting station. It was said that the machinery for this project were shipped from the United States. At what level is this project now? 
Walid: This subject is premature now, and I didn’t know about the said shipment. 
Al-Tariq: Any last word to add? 
Walid: I would like to thank ‘Al-Tariq’ newspaper for its been interest and support to Yemen Times and myself. The Yemen times is part and parcel, of the Yemen free press and shall remain active in providing facts to the public. 
I can assure you that the Yemen Times shall continue on its path that was defined by my father, that is to support democracy, and human rights, through its reports and covering of developments and shall always be for the benefit of Yemen and Yemenis. 

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