Issuance of Yemen 2003 Strategic Report [Archives:2004/750/Local News]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
The Yemeni Strategic Studies Center has recently issued its 2003 strategic report. The center, chaired by Dr. Mohamed Afandi, one of leaders of the Islah Party, was founded in 1996.
The report, prepared by an elite of doctors and specialists consists of information on a number of themes.
The first theme is concerned about the start and advancement of economic development, treasury bonds, privatization, economic relations with the outside world and Islamic banks.
The political section explained the 2003 parliamentary elections, the violations and shortcomings that took place, and the legislative and executive authorities.
On the security front, the report elaborated the stance of Yemen regarding terrorism in terms of defining terrorism in Islamic legislation and international law. It highlights terrorism cases in Yemen that have taken place during 1990-2003, the assassinations of several politicians, kidnappings and the stances of political parties towards them. It reviewed Yemen's participation in the international campaign to combat terrorism before and after the September 11 incidents.
The report touches on technical and vocational education, higher studies at universities, and the remaining problems and challenges facing education.
The report, in the rights and occupational freedoms section, explains the related laws and legislation.
The report talks in great details about Yemeni women's social and political activities and points out the number of women registered for parliamentary and local elections as well as the number of women who run in those elections.
The report, in the media section, refers to private and political party newspapers and describes the developments that have taken place in this field, and points out and analyses the stances and rhetoric of newspapers in political and partisan conflicts, while reviewing recommendations to various media organizations.
The culture chapter focuses on Sana'a city, the Arab Cultural Capital 2004.
In the foreign section, the report refers to the regional effects regarding the US occupation of Iraq from various strategic angles, and to the new US policies toward the region and their direct and indirect influences on regional regimes, particularly on Yemen. It also highlights the economic effects on Arab countries in particular and on the world's economy in general of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
This report is the first report issued by the center despite the availability of many similar centers, some of which are official.
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