Breakthrough in GPC-opposition relations [Archives:2006/932/Front Page]

Mustafa Ragih
SANA'A, March 24 ) Dialogue between the ruling party and JMP opposition parties resumed last Friday following a meeting at the residence of Dr. Yassin Saeed Nu'man, Secretary-General of Yemen's Socialist Party (YSP).

The dialogue, regarding forming electoral committees to manage September's presidential elections, recently was suspended after reaching a deadlock.

This development in relations between the two parties – from exchanging accusations to dialogue – comes a day after a meeting at the president's house last Thursday including President Ali Abdullah Saleh and three JMP leaders represented in Parliament; namely, Nu'man, Abdulwahab Al-Anise, Islah party assistant secretary-general and Sultan Al-Attwani, secretary-general of the Nasserite Unionist Organization.

Discussions involved the JMP's March 7 letter to the president outlining guarantees they deem necessary for holding free and honorable elections whereby all parties can defend the results. A source attending the meeting said the atmosphere was good but points of difference between the two parties were substantial.

The source added that Saleh showed keenness to hold free and upright elections according to guarantees approved by the law, pointing out that authorities had invited international observers to participate in monitoring the presidential elections and expressing willingness to cooperate with them to facilitate their mission.

The meeting concluded with agreement to maintain dialogue on the list of guarantees, with two dialogue sessions already having been held last Friday and Saturday. However, the two sides said such sessions have not produced any agreement regarding running the electoral process in line with guarantees included in the JMP letter.

Sources said confining opposition representation to parties represented in Parliament was intended to exclude Ba'ath Party representative Qassim Sallam from attending the meeting due to his recent stance toward the JMP and press statements appearing closer to the ruling authority.

Sallam, who was close to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, so far has not signed the JMP document for political reforms and rules of procedure for the opposition alliance. Also, his party's fragility and small size, especially after the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime, makes his remaining with or departure from the JMP is of no real impact or serious consequences.
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