Saleh: US-Yemeni relations involve agreement and difference [Archives:2006/932/Front Page]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, March 25 ) In an interview with Abu Dhabi satellite channel in Thursday, March 23, President Ali Abduallah Saleh talked about the reunification of Yemen which he considers to be among the most important achievements of his office term, as it impacts the region's security and stability. He went on to say that if the secession had continued, conflict and influence of rival parties wanting to divide Yemen also would have continued.
The president said Yemeni unity was met with defiance, topped by the secession itself, and he disclosed that large sums were sent in 1994 to support the secession. He added that the sums and support were behind wrong interpretation of Yemen's stance on Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, despite the fact that Yemen was the first country to insist that Iraq pull out of Kuwait.
As for development achievements, Saleh assured that Yemen's situation speaks for itself, in that the country witnessed immense changes that could not be presented in such a limited time. The president said Yemen enjoys good relations with the U.S., with the two countries' viewpoints coinciding on several issues like terrorism. Among areas of agreement with the U.S. that Saleh mentioned was economic cooperation, saying the U.S. urges donor countries to help Yemen, besides other things. But he also said they diverge on other issues, such as U.S. support to Israel.
Commenting on the U.S. State Department's human rights report, Saleh affirmed that the one who prepared and published the report is practicing human rights abuse, whether it is the U.S. administration or any other country.
He said Yemen is certain it has no human rights abuse and he considers that it respects human rights, noting that Yemen has a multi-party political system, Constitution, laws and systems that protect these rights. He added that the U.S. report contradicts facts. He also disclosed that the U.S. recently told Yemen it will hand over a number of Guantanamo prisoners.
Saleh said Yemeni relations with Gulf countries are good and brotherly, adding that Yemen complements the Gulf Cooperation States (GCS), while the GCS complement Yemen at the same time, thus enabling Arab countries to form a unified system. He added that there is recent political movement to qualify Yemen by establishing a fund for this purpose, which will not be an alternative to other funds existing between Yemen and other GCS countries.
Regarding the Sa'ada conflict, Saleh said those fueling the ordeal were misled, dreaming of reinstating the imams and toppling the republican rule. “We declared general amnesty, released prisoners and gave the new governor authority. He is the man with experience and can treat the psychological effects of the ordeal.”
The president called for an agreed definition of terrorism that differentiates between terrorism and citizens' right to resist occupation and colonization. For example, he said Palestinian resistance is not considered terrorism, adding that there is a difference between terrorism and people's right to resist.
Saleh defined terrorism as an individual criminal act that threatens the whole world, adding that no country or religion adopts this. “It is an individual act practiced by individuals,” he went on to say. “There should be a precise definition of terrorism that takes into consideration this differentiation.
“According to this definition, if there is a terrorist in any country, he will be responsible for his actions without affecting the country to which he is affiliated. Those who commit terrorist acts are groups of individuals. Terrorism is a headache found everywhere,” he concluded.
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