LONDON, Nov. 15(Saba) - At the opening of the Consultative Group Meeting for Yemen's Development Partners, President Saleh called the meeting to be more positive than the 2002 one held in Paris.

He stated that Yemen is "committed" to continuing the comprehensive reforms program it has already started in 1997.
 
Yemen early started reform process. Since the Unification in 1990, Yemen has been maintaining democratic approach in terms of multiparty, opinion freedom, press freedom, respecting human rights and women involvement in different walks of life, Saleh said, pointing out that, in Yemen, women nowadays are ministers and
ambassadors and can participate in elections as a voter and as a candidate.

Saleh stated that Yemen would soon apply to be a member in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The last Yemeni election was a real contest and not a play, Saleh said, pointing out that all international observers agreed to its fairness.
"Practicing democracy is better than its absence," said Saleh.

Yemen is going to modify the local authority law so that to allow the election of governors and district directors. In addition, an
autonomous authority will be established to implement the law of financial inviolability, another authority for bidding and auctions
and a third to implement anti-terrorism law, Saleh said.

"Our security is a safety for you, and there is inter-integrity between us and you, so you have to give us your hand to avoid our problems", Saleh concluded addressing GCC states.