Al-Mithaq [Archives:2008/1204/Press Review]
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Top Stories
– Al-Shami wonders why JMP got confused about President Saleh's initiative
– Government requests YR 20 billion to restore flood damage
– Al-Akwa'a: JMP did not interact responsibly with President Saleh's call for dialogue
Mr. Abdurrahman Al-Akwa'a, Acting Secretary General of the ruling GPC, confirmed the ruling party's care to have all political parties, mainly JMP member parties that views Yemen as ineligible for multi-party system and peaceful transfer of power, engaged in the electoral process, the website reported.
During his meeting with NDI Senior Advisor for MENA Programs Mr. Mathew Frumin, Al-Akwa'a said that JMP did not interact responsibly with President Ali Abdullah Saleh's call for dialogue, particularly after Saleh mandated his Political Advisor Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Eryani to communicate with JMP leaders and provide them with President' suggestions to reach a compromise and end current discrepancies between ruling and opposition parties.
The ruling party did not expect that the JMP would release a statement rejecting dialogue with it. According to the GPC official, JMP wants to have a dialogue outside the constitutional and legal frame, which is impossible because the Constitution and Law are viewed by the ruling party as the only reference for dialogues and negotiations with other parties.
He added, “GPC made numerous concessions during dialogues with JMP, however, the latter remained adherent to narrow and incredible partisan positions.” The Acting GPC Secretary General reaffirmed his party's care to bring about a correct voter register free of any mistakes and violations.
Al-Akwa'a said, “We should all work together for the sake of empowering women and helping them get represented at Parliament, aside from any partisan exaggerations, most notably as some parties exploit alleged backing for women as a kind of exaggeration to win support of international organizations.”
Al- Akwaa clarified that his party is ready to accept any suggestions or viewpoints to be presented by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in order to ensure fair and transparent elections, and stop exploiting public funds, government jobs and official media in favor of a certain party. He indicated that elections are a constitutional right to be practiced by all people not by individual parties.
From his side, Mathew Frumin praised Yemen's democratic experience, describing it as “a pioneering one” in the region. He stressed the necessity of strengthening cooperation between GPC and NDI.
NDI Country Director Mr. Peter Dimitroff said that President Ali Abdullah Saleh deserves high respect and consideration for proving to be a sponsor of democracy and caring about improving the democratic experience in Yemen, as well as insisting that all political parties should participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He confirmed that NDI rejects the idea of boycotting the election as such doesn't proceed in favor of political parties that do so.
——
[archive-e:1204-v:16-y:2008-d:2008-11-03-p:press]
