Activities of the U.S. ambassador, criticized [Archives:2002/35/Local News]
August 26 2002
MOHAMMED BIN SALLAM
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Mr Hull has begun holding political talks with some tribesmen in those areas, a matter Sana’a has deemed to be going beyond his duties as an ambassador.
The Saudi newspaper al-Watan on Friday said “It has not happened before that official media in Yemen have criticized a foreign country ambassador as has been the case with the U.S. ambassador Mr Hull. That was because of his non-innocent activity he has been doing in tensed areas in the country, particularly in Mareb and al-Jawf. Recently his visits to those governorates increased and last week he took part in laying the foundation stone for a health center in Mareb as it is being supported by the U.S. government.”
The newspaper said further that “What annoys the Yemenis more is that the Americans make use of the country’s difficult circumstances by offering promises to tribesmen in those areas in a way showing weakness of the state’s control. Ambassador Hull has repeatedly announced America’s willingness to offer aid to the tribal areas deprived of social and other services. ”
On the other hand al-Mithaq newspaper, organ of the People’s General Congress ruling party in Yemen had assailed the American ambassador describing him as “behaving as a high commissioner and dealing with Yemen as if it were a U.S. state.” Some opposition newspapers have also demonstrated strong criticism to ambassador’s such activities, considering them as flagrant interference in Yemeni affairs.
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