NDI Delegation in its Press Conference: “NDI Recommends Postponement  of Local Council Elections” [Archives:2000/32/Front Page]

The National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) pre-election delegation visiting Yemen during July 31 – August 6, 2000, held a press conference in the Yemen Times headquarters, Sanaa, to brief the media people in Yemen about their visit to the country.
The members of the delegation are: Martha Walker, State Senator from West Virginia, Dr. Omar Kader, a Palestinian-American political activist and business leader, Thomas Melia, NDI Vice President for Programs, Nick Green, NDI Senior Field Representative in Yemen and Andreas Katsouris, NDI Senior Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa.
The report issued by the delegation commented on several issues like voters registration, women’s political participation, local government elections, political party relations and media access.
The report also contained some recommendations. Mr. Andreas told the press that one of the recommendations  is the postponement of local council elections. Martha Walker said that the most impressive thing is the willingness of women to politically participate in the life of the society. However, she regretted that no political party in Yemen made a woman represent it in the meeting with the NDI delegation. Other recommendations of the NDI are:  re-considering the New Election Law, greater coordination between the Supreme Election Committee and political and civic leaders, expanding media access, a new voter registration system and others.
After reading the report, the delegation members answered the questions of the media people.


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