Reforms and Modernization in Yemen (2)Lessons and experiments [Archives:2004/750/Opinion]

By Prof. Abdul Aziz Al-Tarb
For the Yemen Times
I wrote in last week's issue about the beginning of a new era that has begun in Yemen that witnesses more focus on internal matters and genuine work for reforms aiming at the achievement of comprehensive reforms. This era requires of all of us collective and intense efforts in all fields since what we are seeking is not limited reforms or humble or modest accomplishments, but rather comprehensive work at the local and national levels.
We could learn from the lessons and experiments of others when we seek to implement modernization and reform in Yemen.
Romania has been able to accomplish a large proportion of the prerequisite conditions for joining the European Union in the social, political and economic fields. The date to join the European Union has been set for 2007. The set of reform operations carried out by Romania in order to meet conditions for membership in the European Union represents a practical experiment that could be of great benefit, if it were studied and analyzed, in the Yemeni experiment.
Also, what happened in the Federal Republic of Russia is near a miracle considering the situations following the collapse of the USSR and the complete deterioration that had reached all aspects of life, which negatively affected the stature of Russia on the international level. Russia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, seemed as a regional country of moderate or limited power, despite its immense nuclear capabilities and economic potential that could make her the second power after the United States of America.
Russia witnessed a chaotic situation without precedent and complete collapse, famine in some parts, not to mention the prevalence of corruption, bribery, theft and a high level of organized crime. Living conditions deteriorated to the degree that many scientists sought job opportunities abroad for better living opportunities. Many people expected that Russia would never rise up again while several regional and international powers sought to get a piece of the pie: a portion of the fading empire. Needlessly to mention the marches of poor and desperate Russian residents and the flight of many scientists and youths to other foreign countries seeking better living opportunities, many of whom ended up having jobs that were degrading and unsuitable for citizens of a superpower that had been for four decades the second pole in the bipolar world system.
President Putin achieved tremendous progress in various fields to prevent a complete collapse and in putting a limit to Russia's setbacks. He admitted the deteriorating situation his country had reached, and he installed a clearly-defined set of plans to handle and to treat the problems encountered. He quickly regained control and restored discipline to the state's various corporations. He has gradually but steadily regained also the state's powerful image internationally. Moreover, during this period, he was able to strengthen the country's economy and to create an atmosphere for the flow of foreign investments to the level that Russia achieved a surplus of 47 billion USD in the commercial balance as Russia's experts reached 107 billion, whilst imports were valued at only 60 billion USD.
The examples are many. Egypt has sent to jail a former governor and a former finance minister on corruption charges for 7 and 10 years respectively. Other officials and banks' chairmen are awaiting trials. The fight against corruption is also taking place in Syria and Bahrain.
The Asian Tigers provide other well-known examples of similar reform and development.
To make it clearer, we are with President Saleh, “Hand in hand for the development and construction of the country”, as the Yemen Times magazine's says. In order to clarify the dimensions of the reforms and modernization we call for, I clearly say that Yemen has achieved a reasonable degree of success in development and modernization. It has successfully accomplished genuine development noticeable to ordinary citizens in fields such as the country's in roads and telecommunication infrastructure, but it is still short in the education, health, vocational training, agricultural marketing and a modern administrative system.
The political will is essential as well as the intention to commence a true reform operation in various fields through selecting qualified officials, personalities and dignitaries, known for their honesty, integrity, loyalty and sincerity who are committed to be accountable for the consequences of their actions and to carry out transparently their missions to serve the best interest of country and to realise the ambitions of the President.
The Republic of Yemen will not be able to rise up to reach its appropriate stature without the collective efforts of all, where everyone carries his or her duty and job properly with the conviction that good deeds receive appropriate merit and bad deeds are met by the appropriate punishment. Furthermore, the Government will always need the support of the private sector to contribute its share to the development and building of the country toward genuinely comprehensive development.
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