Yemeni political parties agree to strengthen democracy [Archives:2006/1007/Front Page]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, Dec. 12 ) The Joint Meeting Parties and the ruling General People's Congress signed an agreement to enhance democracy in Yemen in the presence of Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, which monitored Yemen's Sept. 20 presidential and local elections.
Both sides pledged to implement all of the mission's recommendations presented in its report on this past September's presidential and local elections.
The agreement stresses consolidating mutual cooperation between Yemeni political parties with the aim of strengthening democracy and improving Yemen's future. Additionally, the agreement aims to make Yemen an ideal model of democracy in the region and increase women's participation in the 2009 elections.
According to the agreement, women should be involved in political action, as well as in various electoral spheres. It proposed that human resources and Yemeni citizens' energy should be used to promote the democratic course and provide equal opportunities to all Yemenis in order to attain true democratic reform.
The agreement was signed by GPC Assistant Secretary-General Abdurrahman Al-Akwa'a, Islah Party Assistant Secretary-General Abdulwahab Al-Anisi, Yemeni Socialist Party Secretary-General Yassin Sa'eed Noman, Nasserite Unionist Organization Secretary-General Sultan Al-Atwani, Popular Forces Union Assistant Secretary-General Abdussalam Razzaz and Hassan Mohammed Zaid, head of Al-Haq Party's political unit.
In a statement, the JMP confirmed that it hails the agreement and thanked the European mission, whose efforts and objective assessment of the electoral process it said it values. The opposition parties declared that they appreciate the mission's precious efforts to improve the Yemeni electoral process and reform its shortcomings.
The opposition hoped that the EUEOM would continue its efforts to strengthen democracy in Yemen and implement political reforms.
Al-Akwa'a affirmed that the agreement will help enhance Yemen's political experience, which he said is based on plurality and respect for human rights.
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