President Ali Abdullah Saleh praised
on Saturday the positive results of the ministerial meeting of the Friends of
Yemen, which was held yesterday in New York, expressing high appreciation to
the positions of brotherly and friendly countries which supported Yemen’s
security, stability and unity.
The New York
meeting confirmed a strong regional and international commitment to support Yemen and its
priorities of development and enhance its economic capacity.
President Saleh directed the government
to apply the outcomes of that New York meeting
and the upcoming meeting to be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh,
in addition to work on the consolidation of peace and reconstruction in the province of Saada, and persistence of implementing
financial and economic reforms and achieving all desired goals.
In a speech on the occasion of the
national celebrations mark the Yemeni revolution of the 26 September, 14
October and 30 November, the President congratulated all Yemeni people on the
national occasion, describing it as a victory for all people of Yemen in the
liberation from the priestly Imamate and the abhorrent colonialism and the
achievement of national aims.
"The national celebrations of
our people have profound implications and useful lessons which learn us to
pursue the approach of those values and the great principles that came out by
the Yemeni revolution’’, said the President, adding that the Yemeni people
achieved the greatest gains and achievements, particularly the reunification of
the country, democracy, pluralism and the establishment of the institutions of
modern state and the factors of sustainable development.
The President also emphasized that
Yemen was able to counter all challenges that impeded its approach, including
the recent challenges of sedition and rebellion in Saada and the sabotage acts
by outlaw elements in some areas of southern and eastern provinces in addition
to those terrorist acts of al-Qaeda and a difficult economic situation
resulting from the effects of the global financial crisis.
‘’Our people remains able and
resolute to achieve the victory for the successful approach under the banner of
the Yemeni revolution, its republican system and firmness unity’’, Saleh said.
He went on to say: "There is no
doubt that what those rogue elements are doing now of the acts of banditry,
sabotage and attacks on citizens and public and private properties, the
dissemination of hatred and resentment among the sons of the homeland and
trying to obstruct the efforts of reconstruction and development, are insulting
to the sacrifices of the martyrs who were struggling for the sake of their
homeland, people, revolution, freedom, unity and development".
Saleh stressed that these elements
would not succeed in their endeavors and fantasies, calling on them to return
to the right way and abandon violence, subversion and hatred, ‘’ unless the
people will counter them’’.
The president also reiterated that
the scourge of terrorism is plaguing the world.
"We are committed to fight
terror and take our national responsibility to deal with this threat, which
damaged our national economy and tarnished the reputation of our religion,
country and nation. These extremist and terrorist elements of al-Qaeda used to
damage the interests of the people and the country, development, tourism and
investment in our country and wreaked havoc in the land. They inevitably will
be confronted and overcome by all means for securing the country and the people
and protecting the precious achievements and gains".
Stressing democracy is a fruit of
the Yemeni revolution and unity and the commitment of political and economic
freedom in the country, the President called on everyone in the power and
opposition to seek to succeed national dialogue, describing it as the best and
most successful way to address all national issues.
"Therefore, we look forward the
results of dialogue among all civil and political parties to become a beacon
for the national political commitment to the interests of the homeland’’, said
he, pointing out that dialogue is a field to reflect the spirit of national
partnership and competition in the development of the political system and
commitment to the right of our people to hold parliamentary elections on
schedule without any delay’’.
Saleh said that both dialogue and
parliamentary election should be separately held without affecting each other,
‘’So, the parliamentary elections should be held on schedule with the
participation of all parties and the dialogue continues in order to achieve national
objectives".