Yemen political attitudes guarantee better relations [Archives:2006/961/Opinion]

Ismail Al-Ghabri
The Yemeni leadership has emerged as a well-known model in the region for its successful political tactics in consolidating co-relations with neighboring countries, based on its complementary role in enhancing partnership and security throughout the entire region.

Modern Yemen attributes the set-up of its effective government to the political experience of President Saleh, who has systematically stabilized the country's political regime.

One of the most essential norms of the current political system is that it is based on the people's absolute will and freedom of choice for their leadership. This governing regime is in total harmony with the different constituents of civil society and is well-implemented to monitor people's affairs, freedoms, rights and relations in terms of the rules and regulations as specified by Yemeni law.

It was a great achievement that Yemen had defined clearly its boundaries enabling it to establish a better security condition internally as well as externally, that is with other countries.

Yemen is indebted to President Saleh for the role he played during the pre-unification era in Yemen, in molding the political structure of the country and, in collaboration with other pro-unity supporters, in achieving Yemen's reunification and in safeguarding it against further conspiracies of secessionism.

Having ensured the political stability inside the country, firstly, the President was concerned with settling the long-standing issues of boundaries with adjacent countries and enabled the completion of boundary agreements with both the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia. This step was essential in eliminating any possibility of escalating tensions between the neighboring countries. The agreement further enhanced the relationship between Yemen and both Oman and Saudi Arabia, which resulted in fruitful yields for the people of the three countries.

The finalization of the border agreements has enabled the concerned parties to cooperate in fighting terrorism, monitoring trade movement, and combating smuggling over the borders, and furthermore the agreement enhanced the stability and security of the whole region.

Secondly, the President has wisely responded to the issue of conflict between Yemen and Eritrea over Hunaish Island by resorting to international mediation. This approach has cut off all foreign plots and interfering attempts aimed at fuelling the differences between Yemen and Eritrea at that time. By adhering to the arbitration judgment over this issue, both sides have evaded falling into the trap of a series of conflicts that might have had bloody and destructive consequences.

Thirdly, the Yemeni leadership has realized that the area of Bab Al-Mandab and the Horn of Africa has long remained a strategic target for foreign powers

With this in mind the Yemen has exerted all possible diplomatic efforts to bridge any rift between countries in that area. Yemen has contributed in reducing conflicts between both Sudan and Eritrea, and Ethiopia and Eritrea, in addition to its attempts to aid a compromise between rival factions in Somalia. President Saleh has considered this the duty of the Yemeni diplomacy as part of its role in maintaining the stability and security of the region.

With regard to Yemen's relations with the Gulf States, the Yemeni government has adopted all means of speeding up the economic integration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and not only to search for financial support and aid as many might mistakenly believe. Yemen's relations with the Gulf have experienced a remarkable advancement and transition to the point of full commercial and economic partnership which serves the mutual interests for all those concerned.

In conclusion, this political vision of President Saleh has been highly admired and acclaimed in the region, in light of the President's continuous efforts to tackle the inter-Arab differences, and his constant calls on the international community to play their impartial role in solving all the tangled issues and conflicts in the region, which would ultimately restore stability, peace, and security in the region.

Ismail Al-Ghabri is a Yemeni journalist, working in Yemen Times for almost 14 years.
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