EU official calls on all Yemen parties to engage in constructive dialogue
The Source: BRUSSELS/hadhramaut.info/sabanews.net - 11/03/2011
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A senior EU official has called on all parties in Yemen to engage in an open and constructive dialogue, after President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced a reform initiative.
I have listened carefully to the announcement made today by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in which he made proposals for constitutional reform and elections", Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission said in a statement.
Saleh's new initiative included formating a committee from the parliament and the Shura Council to draw up a new constitution - to be completed by the end of 2011- to separate authorities, switching into a parliamentary system, in which all executive powers are given to an elected government that will come through the parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in late 2011-early 2012. All powers will be given to the government, improving the local governance system by giving it vast powers based on decentralized administrative and financial systems, establishing provinces based on geographical and economic measures and forming a national unity government to draft a new electoral law based on proportional representation."I see this announcement as a step forward, and call on all parties to engage without delay in an open and constructive dialogue, so that proposals are translated as soon as possible into concrete steps to respond to the demands of the people", Ashton added.
She said that meaningful dialogue should unlock progress on the political, economic and social reforms for which the people of Yemen have been calling."I remain very concerned at the escalation in the use of force in response to protests in Yemen. Authorities must protect peaceful demonstrators and their right to assemble freely. Violence must stop and all sides must show calm and restraint", the EU official said.She confirmed that the EU will continue to monitor the situation in Yemen very closely, and stands ready to continue supporting Yemeni efforts to press ahead with reforms.
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