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Monday - March 18, 2013

Vol. xVI - Issue 22

National Dialogue conference .. Yemen Makes history

Nicholas Hopton British Ambassador

International Community stands by Yemen to the success of the political settlement.

We assure all that dialogue is the only ideal way to unity.

Sergey G. Kozlov Russian Ambassador

The success of the NDC will be the key to investment.

Chang Hua

Chinese Ambassador

Mohammed al-Yedomi Chairman of Islah

Yemenis are making history, Benomar

Houthi, Hirak members to deputize for Hadi during NDC

Exclusive Yemenis are making history by holding the first ever open transparent inclusive participatory national dialogue that has ever been organized in the region, said UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar in an exclusive interview with the Yemen Observer. “ My message is that Yemenis are really making history. Yemenis are the most armed people in the region and in the world. Despite all differences and infighting that’s been going on, still they chose the path of peace,” he added. Benomar said that Yemenis

A republican decree was issued yesterday stating the forming of a governing authority for the National Dialogue Conference, the staterun news agency Saba reported.

wanted change, Yemenis wanted to move on , Yemenis want a bright new future and by voting massively for the president it was also like a referendum on the transition agreement itself. “It was endorsed massively by the Yemenis who wanted change,” he added.

Benomar said this experience is unique. “It’s a negotiated transition. It came about through a negotiation and compromise between the sides in the conflict. Second, it’s a transition that has a very clear roadmap,” he said. “Yemen in fact is the only country in the context of the Arab Spring that has a very clear roadmap that is based on a number of principles, a number of exclusions that were created during the transition, a number of processes and a timeline that is very clear.”

Read full interview on page 6 - 7

The decree states that President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi will be the president of the six-month conference with six deputies as follows: Abdulkarim al-Eryani (GPC),Yaseen Saeed Noman (YSP), Abdulwahab Ahmed al-Anisi (Islah), Sultan Hizam al-Atwani (Nasserist), Ahmed Bin

Ahmed Bin Farid alSuraimah

Farid al-Suraimah (Hirak) and Saleh Ahmed Habrah (Huothi Group) Abdullah Salem Lamlas

Saleh Ahmed Habrah

shall be the rapporteur with Nadia Abdulaziz al-Saqqaf as his assistant, according to the decree.

yemenis build a roadmap to a better yemen, Bin Mubarak The Yemeni dialogue has already begun since the past two years and hopefully will continue for many years to come. Today you will find all citizens engaging in discussions on major challenges facing Yemen; however, the schedule for the formal national dialogue process as stipulated in the GCC deal will last for 6 months, Ahmed Bin Mubarak the SecretaryGeneral of the NDC Techni-

cal Committee told the Yemen Observer.

“The six-month National Dialogue Conference will cost roughly YR 8 billion in total of which Yemen will shell out 40 %”, he said, adding that such an amount is equal to YR 130 for each Yemeni citizen accumulatively.

The 565 representatives of

Read full interview on page 7

the NDC are 50% from the south, 50% from the north, 30% from women and 20% from youths.

we will step beyond the threshold of the ndc to demarcate the new future of Yemen.

Ali al-Amrani

Minister of Information

We are facing a historic challenge, and we need the establishment of the State of Justice.

Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

Publisher

3

Faris Sanabani

Acting Editor in Chief Abdul - Aziz Oudah

Editorial Adviser MOHAMED AL KIBSI

Editing secretary Fares Anam

Senior Journalists Akram al-gaolahi

Journalists Faisal Darem Hasna Abdul Majid Mohammed Ali kalfood Mohammed Sharhan

Technical Director Nabeel Saleh al-wa’ail

Grahpic Desiners Talal al asqor abdul nasser sultan

Photographers Mohammed Quatab Hamed Ahmed

Markiting Belal al-sanabani Essam al-sanabani Shezaan syed

Local Distribution Sana’a, Aden, Taiz, Ibb, Dhamar.

Main Office Sana’a, Yemen Tel : +967-1-505466/248444 Fax : +967-1-260504 PO Box 19183

Massive troops to secure National Dialogue

By Fares Anam

The General Secretariat of the National Dialogue Conference said it has completed all the technical measures, security and administrative for the convening of the NDC. Its first session is being held in the presidency headquarters in Sana’a today.

Deputy Secretary General of the NDC, Yasser al-Rayeni, said that the Secretariat of the Conference worked continuously to end all procedures, technical and administrative, and arrangements for the convening of the NDC, and it completed all work assigned to it. “The lists of independent Youth and women will be announced by the President of the Republic permanently,” he added.

“The conference will start as scheduled today.”, al-Rayeni told marebpress news website, denying what some media published the possibility of postponing the NDC.

President Abdo Rabbo Mansor Hadi will be reviewing the lists of the Youth and women during twenty-four hours period, calling the media to be a supportive and active partner in the success of the NDC.

More than 300 media workers will be announced when they are sorted.

Mohammad Hadi Mansour, special secretary to President Hadi confirmed that the list fpr the President on the NDC is incomplete, and it will be announced soon.

The security services mobilized and increased readiness to ensure security for the NDC. About 60 thousand soldiers will participate in the security plan and be deployed for military check points at the entrances to major cities and streets.

This comes in implementation of the plan prepared by the security committees in the capital Sana’a and the various governorates of the Republic to ensure the provision of the necessary security protection for all conference events in anticipation of any emergency that would disrupt its meetings.

Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, Secretary General of the NDC said that the inaugural session of the Conference will be in the presidential house and then the meetings will begin at the Movenpick Hotel.

Bin Mubarak considers the day of March 18 as an important moment for Yemenis in

Withdrawals from NDC

By Akram al- joalahi

Reactions varied over the decisions on the President’s formation of the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) last Saturday, when some of the participants announced the suspension of their participation.

Ahmed Saif Hashed, Naif al-Qanis, Mohsen Ba Surah, Asmhan al-Alas, Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar and Sheikh Tareq Mohammed suspended their participation in NDC. “The Ba’ath Party suspended the participation of its members in NDC, scheduled on Monday in Sana’a because of the disregard of President Hadi to our messages including our demands,” said Naif al-Qanis, spokesperson of the Joint Meeting Party (JMP).

On the other hand, Member of Parliament (MP), Ahmed Saif Hashed suspended his participation in NDC because his name was announced in the President’s list without his knowledge.

“I will neither let you down, the revolution, nor the martyrs, and I will announce my rejection to participation in NDC,” MP Hashed said.

“I, Dr. Asmhan Aqlan Ali al-Alas, won’t attend the NDC. I am in Aden, in charge of the implementation of a national cultural project concerning our beloved Aden, ” said al-Alas in her announcement of her withdrawal from NDC. Media closer to Ba Surrah quoted him as saying he won’t participate in the NDC because he is abroad.

“Due to the absence of Aden’s people, who are in conformity with my ideas, at the NDC, I declare the suspension of my participation in the NDC, as it will be to no avail. So I will not attend the NDC on March 18,” said Sheikh Tareq Mohammed Abdullah, in a statement published on his face book page.

On late Saturday evening, tribal Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, announced in a statement published on his face book page, his withdrawal from NDC, explaining that, “the withdrawal came because of the decisions of the formation of the NDC and its internal regulations, which contains a number of breaches that contradict the provisions, procedures and principles of the GCC initiative and its operational mechanisms.”

Former ruling family demands to participate in Dialogue

The number of each family members ranges between 2 – 6 persons, as entire people of some governorates have been deprived of participations including academicians, thinkers, scholars and national dignitaries.

Below are the names of the members of the 22 family: 1 - Hameed Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar 2 - Sadiq Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar

3 - Himyar Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar

...

1. Ali Nasser Qaed al-Bukhaiti

2. Mohammed Nasser al-Bukhaiti

3. Mohammed Saleh Saleh al-Bukhaiti

...

2. Motea’ Ahmed Kassem Dammaj 3. Abdul Karim Qasim Dammaj

...

1 – Radhyah Shamsher Ali

5 - Omar Dahman Bashraheel

...

1 – Intisar Ali Abed Rabbo al-Qadhi 2 - Ali Abed Rabbo al-Qadhi

3 - Nashwa Ali Abed Rabbo al-Qadhi

...

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1. Faiza Ahmed al-Mutawakil

2. Intilaq Mohammed Abdul Malik al-Mutawakil

Yemen Observer Online Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen during the period of 1927 - 1962.

By Mohammed Kalfood

The ruling family that ruled before Yemen’s September 1962 revolution has demanded to participate in the dialogue conference, threatening that disregarding them will have an impact on the country’s future.

Ali Hussein Ali Hamid al-Din, the spokesman of the House of Hamid al-Din said that if the National Dialogue does not include all those former influential powers who have important national issues and do act as part of historical stages, the future of Yemen will be affected.

In a recent memo sent to the House of Representatives, the spokesman called for desisting pressure put on the Hamid al-Dins walks of life, and giving them their all rights of national practices without exclusion.

“The Hamid al-Dins asked several official

Mission Statement:

The finally approved list of representatives for the National Dialogue Conference, which was announced early Saturday, reveals 565 members who belong to 22 families including the entire members of two families.

4 - Tammam Muhammad Ali Bashraheel

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Yemen Observer is the best English language newspaper published 2 times weekly in the Republic of Yemen. We have been reporting the news in Yemen since 1996.

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bodies including the presidency for their right of participation in the dialogue in order to speak of their grievances, but to no avail,” the spokesman said.

“If the dialogue is meant for those who carry weapons, and not for the real opinionmakers, then it will tempt the disregarded ones to act like those who forcibly drew the attention of the political leadership for participation in the dialogue, even though we do not tend to act so,” he said.

“Yemen is not meant for this person or that; there must be a system to be followed and respected by one and all,” he added.

“We demand to participate in the dialogue and turn over a new page; history does not bother us more than the attempts to eliminate our identity and demean our citizenship.”

the conference, participants will be divided into nine groups in working sessions that will be held in Sana’a, Aden, Taiz, Mukalla, Sa’ada, and Hodeidah throughout the conference with the possibility of having some meetings abroad as an option in case of necessity.

Domestic Dialogue Conference?

2 – Bahryah Shamsher Ali

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shaping the future of their homeland through dialogue and understanding, stressing that this conference is the most organized and larger than all the experiences of dialogue in the past and has been preparing well over the course of several months.

3. Amal Mohammed Abbas al-Basha (alMutawakil) 4. Faiza Abdullah al-Basha (al-Mutawakil)

...

1 - Saleh Ali Omar Basurah

2 - Mohsen Ali Omar Basurah

...

1. Abubakar Abdul-Rahman al-Saqqaf 2. Nadia Abdulaziz al-Saqqaf

3. Fahmi Nasser Abdullah Al-Saqqaf 4. Faris Ali Ahmad al-Saqqaf 5. Rahman Omar al-Saqqaf

6. Bahia Hassan Mohammed al-Saqqaf

...

1 - Amal Musleh al-Sayadi

2 - Ahmed Abdul Karim Saif al-Masabi

...

1 - Ahmed Abu Bakr Ba Zara’ah

2 - Aidaroos Abu Bakar Ba Zara’ah

...

1 - Naji bin Abdulaziz al-Shayef 2 - Mohammed Naji al-Shayef

...

1 - Abdul Rahman Mohammed Ali Othman 2 - Arwa Mohammad Ali Othman

...

1. Ibtisam Hashim Sharaf al-Din

2. Lamia Ahmed Abdulrahman Sharaf alDin

3. Ahmed Abdul Rahman Hassan Sharaf al-Din

...

1 - Halima Abdallah Nasser Jahhaf

2 - Rdainah Mohammed Ahmed Jahhaf

3 - Abdulsalam Mahmoud Mahdi Jahhaf

...

1 - Abdo Nagi Mohamed Sheryan Abu Ras 2 - Fahad Hamoud Mohammed Abu Ras

...

1 - Abboud Yahya Abu Lohoum

2 - Mohammed Ali Abu Lohoum

...

1. Qassem Sallam Saeed

2. Bilqis Ibrahim al-Hadhrani (wife of Qassem Sallam)

...

1. Abdel Karim Ali al-Eryani 2. Abdul Ghani al-Eryani

3. Bilqis al-Lahabi (wife of Abdul Ghani alEryani) 4. Ramzyah Abbas Eryani

...

1. Omar Hussein Qaed Majalli 2. Omar Hussein Majalli

...-

1. Akhlaq Abdulrahman Ali al-Shami

2. Mohammed Saeed Dhafer al-Shami 3 - Yahya Mohammed al-Shami

4 - Zakaria Yahya Mohammed al-Shami

...

1 - Khalid Abdullah Alawi al-Jafri

2 - Mohammed Abdel Qader Omar al-Jafri 3 - Adnan Omar al-Jafri

...

1. Amin Ahmed Hussein al-Ghaish

2. Khalid Amin Ahmed al-Ghaish (son of Amin Ahmed al-Ghaish) 3. Sharfa’a Amin Hussein Mohamed (wife of Amin Ahmed al-Ghaish)

2 - Salah Musleh al-Sayadi

...

1 - Ahmed Saleh Saif al-Masabi

2 - Mohamed Rajeh al-Arasi “husband”

...

1 - Amira Ali Salah al-Arasi “wife”

To provide comprehensive, trustworthy and unbiased information of Yemeni affairs and to constantly improve the professionalism of our staff and their lives through the compound effect

4

Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

L E A R N I N G E N G L I S H with Teacher Aminah we knew we were in for a blast. crap Meaning: something worthless (n.) | worthless (adj.)

and genuinely enter into their psyche.”

Michèle Roberts -

For example: - Stevie reckoned it was a crap game, but I thought it was pretty cool.

- Did you see that new reality TV show last night? It was so bad I had to turn it off after ten minutes! I can’t watch crap like that. drag Meaning: something boring, tiresome or troublesome

The Past Simple Exercise

For example:

1. Yesterday, Mona ---------- in bed all day. (stay)

- Getting up at five-thirty in the morning in the middle of winter is such a drag. I just wanna stay in bed and keep warm.

2. She ---------- breakfast this morning. (not have)

- My flight’s been cancelled, so I’ll have to go by train instead. What a drag!

3. Last week, we ---------- football. ( play)

5. Why ---------- late ? ( she / arrive )

- It took a lot of guts to tell the boss what you really thought.

Last week’s answers

- Do you think Dave has the guts to tell his family and friends that he’s gay?

8. In 1998, We------------------------- to Taiz.( go )

- male patients.

9. A few years ago, many villages in my country -------------------electricity. (not have )

rip-off (1)

10. I ------------------------- a terrible accident yesterday. ( see )

“I use autobiographical material, I admit it’s there, and then I write about something I desire madly but have never let myself do, for example. That way you use the energy of autobiography but avoid writing a journalistic account of something you already know.”

Michèle Roberts

Meaning: courage For example:

6. Aliya ---------- to school yesterday. (not go)

“If you find that a back-story is entirely your own, then you’re writing autobiography and perhaps you’d better confess to it! You must make sure that you’re not simply writing autobiography because if you are, you’re perhaps writing for personal catharsis rather than perfecting your craft as a storyteller.”

Elliot Perlman

guts

4. ---------- your homework ? ( you / do )

7. Where --------------------------- your holiday? ( you / spend )

You might find it helpful to prepare notes on what is sometimes called the “back-story” of a character. This is a short history of the character before they enter the novel, and it will help you legitimize and solidify their existence. But beware of creating every character in your own image! Use your own experience, and your secret desires and fears, as inspiration.

Meaning: charging too much for something For example: - Ten dollars for a cup of coffee? That’s a total rip-off!

It’s about three dollars anywhere else.

- Why do people pay so much? Don’t they know it’s a rip-off?

. . .

Verb Tense Exercise 2 Simple Present / Present Continuous A Trekking Journal November 12, 1997 Today (be) is the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs (shake) are shaking ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really) are really killing me and my toes (bleed) are bleeding, but

Slang Quiz: Mixed 1

I (want, still) still want to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to

(expla-

nations)

learn. Everything (be) is so different, and I (try) am trying to

action

adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn) am learning a little

Meaning: important or exciting activity

bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortu-

For example:

nately, I (learn, not) do not learn foreign languages quickly.

. .

I’ve always lived in inner-city areas because I like to be where the action is.

If you want to get into movies, Los Angeles is where the action is.

Although I (understand, not) do not understand much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) am gradually improving.

I (travel, currently) am currently traveling with Liam, a student

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/features/ howtowrite/images/how_to01.gifHow to write a novel (part 2 of 4)

from Leeds University in England. He (be) is a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always) always walks ahead of me and (complain) complains that I am too slow. I (do) am doing my

axe | ax Meaning: to dismiss someone from a job (v.) | dismissal from a job (n.)

.

Because of the economic downturn, many companies will have to axe a lot of their workers.

Anyone who creates too many problems for the boss will get the ax.

beat it Meaning: go away For example:

. .

Some kids were smoking in the car park, but when one of them saw a teacher coming they grabbed their stuff and beat it.

When Peter came back from the bathroom, some guy was talking to Leanne. Peter said, “Beat it, pal!

She’s with me.”

blast Meaning: to strongly reprimand (v.) | a strong reprimand (n.)

For example: - The team’s manager was really upset with some of his players, and he blasted them for making so many mistakes.

- When the boss told us all to come into his office,

than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because

Use your characters to help you express your themes, and to show the reader what could be called the “message” of your novel. If the message is an angry one, take care not to hector the reader.

For example:

.

best to keep up with him, but he is younger and stronger

How to sculpt characters

“Eloquent and sympathetic characters are vital for the reader’s enjoyment of the novel. You can lose the reader with anger and the most important thing is the story - more than any message or political idea that you want to get across. You owe the reader an involving story. Then the reader will go away and think about what the story suggests about the world we’re all living in.”

Elliot Perlman -

If your story is being told by a particular character, remember you can play tricks - your character might deliberately lying, for example.

“I don’t like the kind of narrator who’s a great godlike figure, looking down on everyone and seeing into their hearts and souls. I like telling a story from on the ground, through the eyes of an interesting character.

This gives you a squint-eye look at what’s happening and it can help you develop plot and story.”

Michèle Roberts -

Bring your characters alive by imagining how they feel and think.

“A character has to have a life, and the best way of letting that happen is to hear the character talking in your head. Let them speak using “I”: I think…, I feel…, I love… and so on. That’s how you capture their reality

I am getting old.

Right now, Liam (sit) is sitting with the owner of the inn.

They (discuss) are discussing the differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I (know, not) do not know the real name of the owner, but everybody (call, just) just calls him Tam. Tam (speak) speaks English very well and he (try) is trying to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say) says a new word, Liam (try) tries to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam (seem, also) also seems to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don’t get lost and have to ask for directions.

. . . . . . . .

Answer : -ible and -able Spelling Exercise 1. Last night’s movie about the invisible man was so incredible that it was laughable.

2. My irresponsible little brother is usually kept away from anything breakable.

3. Are these new clothes really comfortable, or do people only wear them because they are fashionable?

4. I think I would be less irritable if my professors were more flexible.

5. I don’t think voting twice in national elections is permissible.

6. It’s always valuable to have a friend who is dependable.

7. My employer said that it isn’t suitable to have a secretary whose handwriting is illegible.

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Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

S P E C IA L INTER V IE W S

Yemenis are making history, says Benomar

Y

emenis are making history by holding the first ever open transparent inclusive participatory national dialogue that has ever been organized in the region, said UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar in an exclusive interview with the Yemen Observer.

By Abdul - Aziz Oudah Photos by Mohammed Quatab

powerment. This campaign has already started and this is the first time in history that we see Yemenis very active not looking at the past but looking at the future.

This is how this process is designed. It’s designed for Yemenis to bury feuds of the past , look at the future, look at what they have in common and look at building a new Yemen. This is what it’s all about.

Yemen Observer: Will the dialogue solve Yemen’s problems?

Jamal Benomar: The National Dialogue process was an idea that came up as a result of the negotiations that took place on November 2011.

It was that agreement that allowed for a process that would enable the use of the Hirak, the Houthis, and all the nontraditional political forces to camp together an be part of a process to build a new Yemen.

Yemen Observer: Are we ready for the Dialogue?

Jamal Benomar: We are ready for the dialogue. All the preparations have been completed. It’s been a very interesting process. The technical committee for the preparation of the national dialogue included representatives of all political parties; Houthis, Southerners who defended the leaders of Herik, representatives of the youth, civil Society, women’s groups .

This is the first time in history, as far as I know, that a body that is inclusive with all representatives from Yemeni society get together and agreed over a period of time over the organization, the management, the running of the national dialogue process and they made compromises, it took them some time. But they agreed by consensus how this dialogue is going to be managed.

This is a beginning of what I will call new politics in Yemen. Instead of the politics of closed doors meetings what we see her is a very transparent inclusive process.

This is good news. So the plan that we are seeing for the national dialogue, the report that the committee submitted to the President, the rules of procedure, the plan for the organization for the management of this process is the best that I have seen so far in any other national dialogue, in other countries.

And I must give credit to Yemen for coming up with a very good plan.‬ Let’s see how the plan is going to be implemented Ye -

men Observer: Only 565 people will participate. What do you want to say to the mass of Yemenis that will not participate?

Jamal Benomar: The process is designed in a way that is not under the power of the elite; one elite group of 565 people. This process is designed in a way that engages the public at large . So public participation is an important element in this process.

What we try to do as a machination is to support the secretariat of the National Dialogue to be in the lead .

The ideas was to have a mechanism that would allow for all voices to be heard.

And this is the opportunity that has been provided in the context of the National Dialogue and for Yemenis everywhere, this is a historical opportunity and I think with the cooperation of all sides it will be successful.

Yemen Observer: What procedures could the UN and the Security Council take against the forces that disrupt the NDC? Jamal Benomar : I’m hoping that there will be no further measures from the Security Council. The Security Council recognized that there have been challenges in this transition and that is why they adopted the resolution 2051 and then more recently a presidential statement .

I’m hoping that all sides cooperate for the best interest of Yemen and to ensure that the National Dialogue is successful

“This is the first time in history that we see Yemenis very active not looking at the past but looking at the future.”

So they developed a public campaign that will captivate the public at large. It will ensure that there is dialogue between this elite that is meeting in the National Dialogue Conference and the people from all regions from all parts of the country. And the important thing that we are insisting on is that representatives of women need to stay in touch and be engaged, the constituency the delegation of political parties .

The most important thing is that this is going to be a campaign for democratic em-

and for this transition to succeed. This transition is very unique in the region.

Yemen is the only country in the context of Arab Spring where there is a peaceful transfer of power.

A peaceful transition. It’s a new model that the Yemenis have developed and I’m very optimistic that the Yemenis will make this experiment succeed.

Yemen Observer: Will the Yemeni NDC success encourage the UN to transfer the experience to other Arab countries of the Arab spring?

Jamal Benomar :What is unique about

this experience is that first, It’s a negotiated transition. It came about through a negotiation and compromise between the sides in the conflict. Second, it’s a transition that has a very clear roadmap. Yemen in fact is the only country in the context of the Arab Spring that has a very clear roadmap that is based on a number of principles, a number of exclusions that were created during the transition, a number of processes and a timeline that is very clear from the signing until February 2014 when general elections are to take place.

So it’s a very detailed roadmap so that’s what makes this experience very unique.

And I congratulate the Yemenis for having the courage , foresight and the wisdom for them to agree on a transition agreement with this kind of substance, timeline and benchmarks.

Yemen Observer: Some speak of international and regional intervention for instance American and Saudi Arabia to imposing certain agenda on the NDC.Is that the truth?

Jamal Benomar: The agreement was a Yemeni agreement and it resulted from a face to face negotiation amongst Yemenis.

The role of the international community was one of encouragement and support.

And as the witness to this agreement that we call the implementation mechanism for

the GCC initiative, what I can tell you is that it is a Yemeni solution.

The international community played an encouraging and supportive role , particularly the neighbors of Yemen; the GCC countries. They were the first to launch the GCC initiative and it was followed later on by the Security Council speaking with one voice, urging Yemenis to find a way to initiate a transition based on a political settlement.

Security council resolution 2014 called for a political settlement and that is exactly what happened in the context of the GCC initiative and the implementation and the international community in the context.

Also, the friends of Yemen express their support for Yemen ,raising 8 billion dollars. That was very important and this is continuing. So what is unique about this experience, also is the support that Yemen is getting from the international community all speaking with one voice.

Yemen Observer: The charisma that you enjoy in popular circles.. will it succeed in influencing the success of the National Dialogue Council?

Jamal Benomar: As a representative of the United Nations, Yemenis are very clear, they know that we have no special interest. I represent an organization that Yemen is part of.

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Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS “The support that Yemen is getting from the international community all speaking with one voice” Yemen is part of the united nations. Our frame work is really the implementation of security council resolutions. We operate within the limits of the united nations charter and international law so in a nutshell we have no particular interest as many states have. And the good officers of the secretariat are very partial. They tried to have the same level of contact and dialogue with all sides. And I remember during my first visit, the word dialogue was almost a dirty word.

My view at that time was Yemeni problems could only be solved by Yemenis and they could only be solved through face to face dialogue and there could be no imposition.

My view was also that the Yemenis were tired of the bickering among the politicians and they wanted this country to move on.

Definitely when Yemenis went to vote in the

early elections and they voted for president Abdurrabu Mansour Hadi, they voted for change.

The level of participation exceeded everyone’s expectation. And the lesson from it is that one Yemenis wanted change. Yemenis wanted to move on , Yemenis want a bright new future and by voting massively for the president it was also like a referendum on the transition agreement itself. It was endorsed massively by the Yemenis who wanted change. So that’s what I would say.

that’s been going on still they chose the path of peace.

Yemenis are making history. As I said, They agreed voluntarily to engage in a peaceful transition and Yemenis are mak-

ing history by holding the first ever open transparent inclusive participatory national dialogue that has ever been organized in the region . So Yemen can be a model for this region.

Yemen Observer: What do you want to say to the people of Yemen?

Jamal bin Umar : My message is that the people of Yemen, the most armed people in the region and in the world are really making history.

Despite all differences and infighting

yemenis build a roadmap to a better yemen, Bin Mubarak Yemen Observer interviewed the Secretary-General of the NDC Technical Committee, Ahmad Owadh Bin Mubarak. He explained the technical preparations of the NDC and talked on the details behind the scene.

Ahmad Owadh Bin Mubarak

Yemen Observer: What is the National Dialogue?

MUBARAK: The national dialogue is about citizen’s working together to find solutions to the key challenges facing Yemen. It will involve citizens from throughout Yemen. It will provide an opportunity for respectful, creative discussions among Yemeni citizens that help us build a roadmap to a better Yemen.

This dialogue is unique to Yemen and will be Yemeni owned and Yemeni lead. The dialogue is a chance for us to define our own future.

Yemen Observer: Where did the mandate for this National Dialogue come from?

MUBARAK:The commitment to a national dialogue came from the GCC Pact and was supported by all the major institutions and parties in Yemen. The national dialogue is part of a 2-year transition process set out in the GCC Pact design to create a path away from conflict and towards a citizen engagement process that will allow us to build a more just, equitable and prosperous Yemen.

Yemen Observer: How long will the national dialogue be?

MUBARAK: The dialogue for Yemeni citizens began over 2 years ago and hopefully will continue for many years to come. Today you will find citizens engagingin discussions on the key challenges facing Yemen throughout the country. However the timetable for the formal national dialogue process set out in the GCC Pact will run for 6 months starting March 18th.

Yemen Observer: Who will be involved?

MUBARAK: Every citizen will have the chance to contribute to the dialogue. Through community meetings, public forums, public hearings, local CSO dialogues, the National Dialogue Conference website and much more, citizens can add their voices and ideas to solving the challenges that face Yemen today.

In addition to the citizen engagement, the dialogue will also include a National Dialogue Conference where delegates from throughout Yemen will also get the opportunity to present ideas and create consensus on how to build a stronger, more equitable Yemen.

Yemen Observer: Who will participate in the Conference and how were they chosen?

MUBARAK: The 565 delegates to the Conference come from throughout Yemen. 50%of the delegates will come from the south, 50% from the north, 30% women and 20% youth. The delegates will reflect the diversity of Yemen and will include independent youth, women and CSO’s; political parties; Hirak; Houthisplus nominees from the President’s office.

For each entity invited to submit a list of nominated delegates, they were required to ensure active participation for southerners; women and youth which met the criteria set out by the Technical Committee for the National Dialogue. For the independent delegates,public calls for applications were issued and the response was overwhelming. Committees were established to review the applications and to develop a list of recommended delegates based on established criteria that would reflect the diversity of Yemen.

In the end, the recommended list

of delegates was submitted to the President’s office for final approval.

Yemen Observer: What is the structure of the Conference?

MUBARAK: The Conference will be led by a Presidium that will oversee all activities and proceedings.

All delegates will be assigned to one of nine Working Groups who will be assigned lead responsibility for key subject areas. Each Working group will be required to conduct the necessary research, seek input from citizens and to develop consensus solutions which will be discussed and voted on by all delegates in plenary sessions of the Conference.

Assisting each Working Group and the delegates will be a Consensus Committee who will coordinate the outcomes of the various Working Groups and to help build consensus towards acceptable solutions.

Yemen Observer: What issues will be addressed through this dialogue?

MUBARAK: The issues to be addressed in the Dialogue were set out in the GCC pact and reflect the priority issues of Yemeni citizens and the key challenges facing Yemen today. They include the southern issue; good governance; state building; the Sa’ada issue; transitional justice and national reconciliation; comprehensive and sustainable development; military, judicial and civil service reform; constitutional reform; enhancing the role of women and vulnerable peoples; Yemen Observer: How will the dialogue process be supported?

MUBARAK: The success of the dialogue will be determined by the citizens of Yemen. To support their efforts the National Dialogue Secretariat will be providing numerous support activities to help citizens engage on the various issues and to find shared solutions. The Secretariat will be providing information and materials on both the dialogue process and the issues; promoting community discussions on the issues, supporting regional public meetings for the various Working Groups to hear directly from citizens on the issues; providing issue research and subject matter experts; establishing an interactive website to enable access more information on the dialogue process and the issues plus the Conference will be

broadcast live to all Yemeni citizens so they can watch the issues and outcomes being discussed directly.

This dialogue process will be the most comprehensive, inclusive and transparent process in the history of Yemen.

Yemen Observer: What is the Secretariat?

MUBARAK: The Secretariat for the National Dialogue is a team of staff and volunteers who will provide technical and logistical support to the Conference as well as promote and support the citizen engagement process for the dialogue. Support provided by the Secretariat will include access to issue research and subject matter experts; coordinating and supporting the Working Group citizen outreach; Conference logistics, security and management; communications; administration; budget management and much more. The job of the Secretariat is to ensure that the Conference is run efficiently, the Conference delegates are supported and that citizens are actively engaged throughout the process.

Yemen Observer: How much will this dialogue cost and who is paying for it?

MUBARAK: The national dialogue and conference will cost approx. 8 Billion Yemeni Riel. The Republic of Yemen pays 40% of this total cost or approx. 130YR for each Yemeni citizen. For the cost of 130YR, or the equivalent of one bottle of water per citizen, we have the chance to build a future Yemen based on equality, opportunity and prosperity.

There should be no higher priority and for the price of 1 bottle of water per citizenmost citizens would think it is money well spent.

Yemen Observer: How will decisions be reached in the Conference?

MUBARAK: A consensus model has been established for the Conference. Delegates will have to work among themselves to find solutions that address the issues and enjoy the support of other delegates.

Working Groups will be required to have 90% consensus on a proposed action or solution before that idea can go directly to all the delegates for their consideration. Where 75% support exists within a Working Group on a recommendation

the Consensus Committee will then work to see what they can do to find a stronger solution that will enjoy greater support within the Working Group. Ultimately however, any idea that enjoys 75% support within a Working Group will be presented to all delegates in the Plenary and if 75% of all delegates support the recommended idea then it is deemed to have been adopted by the Conference.

Yemen Observer: Will Yemeni citizens have a say in the final outcomes of the Conference?

MUBARAK: Yes. Constitutional reform will be the key to developing a new roadmap for Yemen and will be the focal point of the work in the Conference. Any constitutional changes recommended by the delegates to the Conference will be subject to a citizen’s referendum as mandated by the GCC Pact.Citizens will have the final say on any proposed changes to the constitution coming out of the Conference.

Yemen Observer: What role will the international community play in this process?

MUBARAK: The international community fully supports the dialogue process and is contributing funding and technical support for the dialogue. But only Yemeni citizens will participate in the dialogue or will be delegates to the National Dialogue Conference. Only Yemeni citizens will vote on the constitutional referendum. Only Yemeni citizens will vote in the next general election.

We will decide our own future. Do we welcome help from the international community? Absolutely. But this dialogue is about our future and it will be decided by Yemeni citizens.

Yemen Observer: How can citizens ensure that their voices will be heard in the Dialogue?

MUBARAK: By contributing your ideas, by attending local dialogue forums and hearings, by submitting your ideas to the Working Groups, by monitoring the Conference proceedings and by voting in the citizen’s constitutional referendum.

This is not a dialogue among elites.

This dialogue is about creating opportunities for all citizens to contribute in building a new Yemen. If you, your family, your neighbors and your community speak up then you will be heard.

Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

OPINION

11

opinions on the National Dialogue Conference By fares anam

Mohammed Abdullah al-Yedomi

Ali Saif Hassan

Abdul-Nasr No›man al-Hajj

AHussein al-Awadhi

Rajeh Badi

Mahboob Ali

The Russian Ambassador in Yemen Mr. Sergey G. Kozlov, the Russian Ambassador in Sana’a said the GCC initiative succeeded as a political compromise which provided suitable conditions to all, taking the form of a road map which saved Yemen the risks of sliding into complicated conflicts and opened the way for gradual reform and for the peaceful power transfer and the building of a modern civil state.

It also succeeded in halting the armed conflicts and took Yemen to safety, stressing that the Russian position regarding Yemen unity is coinciding with the international attitude, which supports Yemen unity and stability, ruling out the existence of any opportunities which threaten Yemen’s unity.

“We assure all that dialogue is the only ideal way to unity and for addressing all issues under framework of unity,” the ambassador said.

The future shape of the state will be discussed through dialogue whether it will be a federal state, consisting of regions, centralized, decentralized and whether the regions are going to be given extensive authorities. All these issues could be addressed at the national dialogue and we will welcome all results that are reached by the Yemenis.

Ali Ahmad al-Amrani, Minister of Information, We are facing a historic challenge, and we need the establishment of the State of Justice. We urgently need to think about how we can get the country out from its historical predicament that it currently lives in.

Yemen has no future unless it is united, but the issue is not unity based on slogans or sympathy, joining or appending, but unity should be based on justice and equality for all people of this country.

We are facing a historic challenge and generations that preceded us hundreds of years ago faced challenges, some of them they beat and others they failed to overcome, and we are now in front of the failure of a national historic that needs qualitative effort to establish a state where all people are equal, even if we encounter different religions and different faiths.

AHussein al-Awadhi, Former Minister of Information, I am optimistic, because the national dialogue seems that it will be horizontally, we have been accustomed to vertical dialogues in the sense that the authority dialogues were with people and citizens formality, as the horizontal dialogue happens between the political elite to arrange situations, no more no less.

We have high hopes and wishful thinking on the dialogue. The Horizontal dialogue should be our doctrines and denominational diversity must be in the Yemeni identity to make complementary happen and make a great nation.

Then there must be a cultural dialogue that opens diversity that can enriches the personality of Yemen, then there is the important economic dialogue, because our problem is basically an economic

problem and how we employ our available resources.

Rajeh Badi, Media Adviser to Prime Minister, We all have to be optimistic and I am optimistic about the National Dialogue because there is a real political will among all the political forces responsible for the success of this dialogue.

There is a strong political will of the leadership for the success of the dialogue, and there is a very popular will with some parties that are trying to increase and reduce the dialogue conference.

I think that there are figures that are probably looking for a historical role and there are some figures outdated and is now trying to return to the top scene, and not interested in the interest of the Yemenis nor in any party for failure of the dialogue.

We have to be optimistic that the output of this dialogue will led us to building blocks of a normal state.

Nicholas Hopton, British Ambassador to Yemen, The international community will not tolerate any parties or groups that want to disrupt the National Dialogue and damage the transition process.

Ten countries along with the UN Security Council stand by Yemen and strongly support the efforts of the success of the political settlement which translated in the Friends of Yemen meeting in London, headed by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. William Hague.

Mahboob Ali, Adviser of President of the Republic I believe that the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference for the first time is not limited to the scope of the political forces, but between parties of civil society and youth and women sectors who had been excluded in all dialogues.

The success of the dialogue is that we carry media workers to hold responsibility commitment Charter of Honor, professional and ethical and I ask the political parties forces to abide by the Charter of political commitment in the sense not to engage in quarrelling issues . The national issue is higher than any political affiliations, partisan and sectarian. Yemen is our sanctuary.

Ali Saif Hassan, Political Researcher and analyst, The first issue in the National Dialogue is not the issue of the South or Sa’ada or other issues as far as what is the cause of building the Yemeni state.

If we do not make a sufficient effort, and redraft building alliances of the state, there will be a very big difference between the coalitions to overthrow the regime, which requires “Bulldozers” to destroy, and the regime that needs engineers and designers to make the visions and re-construction.

So, if the redrafted building alliances of the state didn›t happen by the components of civil and political parties through national dialogue, I say it can›t re-build the state with old and demolition tools, state-building have different tools, standards and alliances.

Abdul-Nasr No›man al-Hajj, General Manager of the Yemeni Bank for Reconstruction and Development I would emphasize that our goal is one and all of us hope that the conference achieve real results with the participation of all effective parties on the scene by the new map outlining a new way to a new Yemen.

I hope Yemen›s future, for our generation is free of any economic crises, political and social or racial conflict issues. I wish for all political leaders to live up to the level of selfishness, ignoring their differences and divisions in order to protect the country and people from any external conspiracies that would destroy the country.

Abdulmalik al-Mikhlafi, Member of Shura Council,

Hence the importance of the role of the economic sector in general and banking in particular which is continuing outreach to all segments of society in all media advertising sector for the need to participate and raise awareness of the importance of dialogue as our last chance for success and progress in the prospects of growth and

development and a bright future.

Dr. Ahmad al-Hadrani, President of Dhamar University, I hope from the National Dialogue to achieve the national dream of a stable state and we hope to raise Yemen from the neck of the bottle and from its difficult situation. We want to show the world that we are wise.

I wish Yemen can get out of this bad reality to the reality of reconciliation, tolerance and build a national state that ensure all rights and duties.

Mohammed Abdullah alYedomi (chairman of the supreme authority of Islah) Within hours and not days we will step beyond the threshold of the National Dialogue conference to demarcate the outlines of the new future of the Yemeni man and ground.

One may denounce our participation in this conference, due to the presence of those who had meanly fomented the killing of nearly 2000 of our Female youth, waded in their blood and whose conscience was absent when they approved this.

We say to those who denounce our position, to the orphans, the widows and the thousands of wounded and disabled that their blood and wounds will not be unavailing, and no right will be lost as long as there are demands behind it.

The fair and just judiciary will be

between us and them sooner or later, despite our pains and injuries.

We should be on top of those who look for the reasons that contribute to building a Yemen that is free of a brutal tyrants.

We said time and again that our weak point lies particularly in our love for our people and homeland, which will not be changed by the lapse of time. The historical facts

Chang Hua, Chinese Ambassador, said China welcomes the progress of the political transition in Yemen, stressing Chinese Government positions in support of the success of the peaceful political transition.

Hua called Yemenis to interact sincerely with the National Dialogue to translate political settlement to reality, noting that the success of the NDC in stabilization will be the key to investment and development of the Yemeni people.

tell us frankly that if we don’t seek good for ourselves as Yemenis, it will not come to us from abroad.

The outside factor could have its positive effect on our conditions and reunion. It couldn’t be denied or ignored and we have to appreciate and be grateful for it, provided that we should be aware that the final word, after God’s help lies in our internal strength, and our desire to communicate through dialogue is for the good of Yemen. The external support and advocacy, however great it is, cannot help those who don’t want to help themselves and will not bring victory to those who don’t want victory for their people.

Hussien Fadhel Harhara, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yemeni Bank for Reconstruction and Development We hope for a positive result in the National Dialogue Conference to save Yemen’s security, unity, stability and economic prosperity.

The success of the National Dialogue will be the premier event in the Yemeni contemporary history and everyone is counting on the dialogue conference to draw the desired future and a modern civil state of law and order.

So, the economic sector must play its role to achieve the dialogue conference to provide the necessary support and comprehensive awareness and establish the concept that the national dialogue is a quantum leap for the construction of a new Yemen.

The economic sector must adopt events, campaigns and seminars to raise awareness of the importance of the National Dialogue and set all forces to participate in the NDC because it is the only way to address the issues and build a new Yemen.

Construction of the desired future of Yemen requires active participation of all forces in the NDC, which paves the way for consensus on the way to address the challenges which is a step in the right direction towards consolidating the democratic transformation and building modern civil state institutions and achieve security, stability and economic prosperity.

I say that the National Dialogue is not just a luxury or a tradition or in response to what is stated in the executive mechanism for the Gulf initiative and the tasks of the transition period.

The idea of ​​the National Dialogue was a precedent for the revolution on February 11, and it is one of the necessities imposed when there is a kind of disintegration of the state and society. And because of what happened in the last decade of disintegration and the collapse of the state.

I think that we should all support the idea of the national dialogue, whether we are media or politicians or personalities because it is not an issue related to power transition and not connected to any party but it is the main and the only way to save the country from deteriorating situation, which it has reached, leading to the drafting of the new state that we aspire.

So we are in front of the first historic opportunity for Yemenis, they, without exceptional, should participate to draft a constitution which is a social contract.

In my point of view, the National Dialogue is a great opportunity and it does not repeat, so I am optimistic on the condition of provided effort and the awareness of the people on the importance of this dialogue and not disappoint them and be honest enough to get us to the new social contract that we aspire for.

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Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

PUBLIC OPINION ON NDC

P OLL

By Hesham al kibsi

The YO conducted an opinion poll about Federalism.

The questions were:

It is said that there is a proposal in the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) to divide Yemen into five federal regions, what do you think of this?

What do you think of the NDC? And do you think it will be successful?

Ahmed Ghaleb

And here’s how the people who participated answered: Aiman al-Ramah, 26, Fourth year student at the Faculty of information, Sana’a university

If it will be in favor of a decentralized state with a federal capital and laws I think it will be very good, just like the UAE every emirate’s local authority takes care of it within a unified federal state. The military, homeland security, Ministries should be unified but administratively every region’s local authority should be elected and control local spending, development etc... separately.

Aiman alRamah

The NDC will be the dividing border line between the last phase and upcoming period, because I think that all issues will be addressed and there is International, Arab and local support for this. All the people want to reach a settlement for all the issues, because Yemenis as Northerners or Southerners share the same vision as to reach a settlement in every aspect, including the sharing of resources, ministries etc.. And God willing the NDC will be successful.

Wajdi Abdullah al-Kazemi, 28, Commissioned officer at the capital Secretariat General Security Sultan Abdulsal am al-Ashwal

I think if the people approve this, which is of course if it is in the favor of Yemen, I’m with it. You can say I’m in favor of a referendum in this matter and in my own opinion Federal regions are much better than what we have in hand.

I’m in favor of the NDC which will be successful and lead Yemen to a brighter future, God willing.

Mou’ad Haitham, 21, Pharmacy Student at the LIU/Police officer, from Abyan

Ehab al-Mudhwahi

I’m against it if leads to Confederalism because unity is faith before everything else and I wish that Yemen remains unified. But, in regard to federalism I approve of it as it preserves the national unity.

The NDC is good way out of trouble for Yemen and I hope it succeeds.

Sultan Abdulsalam al-Ashwal, 19, Student at the LIU If it will be divided like the UAE then its good but the problem is that I think this concept will fail to materialize.

I’m against the NDC because many Scholars and Sheikhs were excluded from it, even though they are very important pillars in Yemen.

Mou’ad Haitham

Ahmed Ghaleb, 22, Student at

Ammar A amer

the LIU

I’m against Federalism, I’m with unity.

God willing, it will succeed, provided that Federalism and Secession aren’t included in its proposals and that it emphasizes on unity.

Prof. Ammar Aamer, 38, Professor at the LIU To me the proposal is ok..

There’s no problem with it, it’s realistic because according to Federalism, Federal regions will be in charge of local income, expenses in addition to other related aspects. Therefore, there will be justice in distribution in regard to income or expenses.

I hope the NDC succeeds as we say that nothing gets solved without dialogue. But, will it succeed or not I’d say only God knows.

Prof. Sharaf Al-Kibsi, 34, Professor at the LIU I’m in favor of Federalism in general, as I think it can solve Yemen’s issues.

I’m not very optimistic about the NDC but, I think it may be the most appropriate solution or maybe the only solution. I expect that the foreign pressure on Yemen is greater than the domestic will for settlement therefore; the solution will either be domestic or foreign.

Nashwan al-Shawkani, 23, Third year Student at the LIU Federalism will inflict serious damage to Yemen, because, it is a preliminary project to dividing Yemen into small statelets and cantons. Therefore, I think that Federalism isn’t a solution for the Southern Cause so; the appropriate solution for the Southern Cause is Justice by the current regime and the punishment of the former regime.

The NDC is a good concept to solve the Yemeni issues, but as long as the NDC hinderers are still in Yemen the NDC will never succeed.

Taha Naji, 26, Graphics Design graduate of the LIU/Manager of the students’ center at the LIU I think that Federalism is a reasonable option because it considers the singularity of every region and it will make it easier to manage and control. I believe that the larger the regimes, the weaker and less efficient are their tools to reach the execution of their roles. When the administrative au-

Hussein al-Najjar

Taha Naji

thorities become divided into federal regions, I think it will lead to faster and easier implementation of decisions for executive subadministrations. This will reflect in a positive way on Yemen in the upcoming period therefore, I am in favor of Federalism.

no place for South, West, Houthi, Wahhabi, Islah, GPC, Nasserite etc.. interest and there is only one entity called Yemen whose best interest will be taken care of because we have a big problem so, give us a solution”. This way I’d say the NDC would be reckoned but other than that no.

About the NDC, I am strongly in favor of “Dialogue” all by itself as a concept, because we tried other ways and we only benefitted through dialogue. We as people with our uniqueness were created to reach one destination. I’m with dialogue, but there are concerns as some people are with and others are against it. I hope that the NDC will be successful and fruitful and that it becomes implemented in its civilized, realistic and transparent form. The NDC will succeed if every conferee has determination to make real change.

Ehab al-Mudhwahi, 36, Lecturer at LIU It’s a very good Idea, I’m guessing that Federal states (regions) will be a very good solution for Yemen, but they have to understand the concept of the Federal solution. The whole resources of the Federal states are for the Federal central government to disperse.

The problem is that the government and the Yemeni political powers think that Federalism means that resources get divided for the whole country which is a mistake.

Also each federal state has a parliament where they have their own laws that are different from other states. I would prefer it to be more than three federations rather than two federations. If it’s only two federations, I’d rather see the South secede, because it is secession in a sugar-coated way.

We hope it succeeds, hoping is good. The thing about the NDC is that the process of picking people and depending on what was not known and is still not known to the people. The second thing with it that makes me a little bit hesitant about it is that the NDC’s selection process of participants is for the political agendas of the parties and the South. So, as a whole view they’re not going to the conference hall to fix a whole country from the prospective of everybody. They are there (in the NDC) for gain and every participant is there to make the most out of the NDC and this is what makes me fear it. If the selection of people was made on the basis that “hey, you people are going to decide the future of this country and there is

defense orders to pursue saboteurs to discuss the security situation in the province and the decisions of the cabinet for entrusting the Ministries of Defense and Interior and the Attorney General to prosecute subversive elements that attack oil and gas pipelines, electricity pylons and set up road blocks and refer them to the judiciary to be punished.

By Hesham Sami Al-Kibsi

Major General Ali Mohammed al-Magdashi vowed to strike with an iron fist on everyone who assaults public interest and that disturbs the peace and stability in the province of Marib.

Al-Magdashi, Deputy Chief of

the General Staff of Technical Affairs, stressed that the government is determined to track down and trace elements disrupting the security and stability.

This came while al-Magdashi chaired an expanded meeting of the leaders of the military and security in Marib province on Sunday

Al-Magdashi added while addressing Security leaders that his visit to the province came under instructions from the Minister of Defense in accordance to the Cabinet decisions during its last meeting and previous directives of the President that included the implementation of the state’s sovereignty and the prosecution of the elements disrupting the security and stability that set road blocks and attack oil and gas pipelines.

Saba news agency said that the meeting discussed the functional-

ity of the security crackdown in the Sirwah district to pursue wanted subversive elements that attacked the oil pipeline.

Al-Magdashi stressed on the need to complete all the files of the accused of assaulting the oil and gas pipelines and electricity pylons and refer them to the prosecution to complete the legal procedures to be tried adversarial for those who are arrested and absentia trials for the fugitives.

He also noted the need to circulate the names and pictures of the wanted to all security checkpoints, land, sea and air ports as well as various security institutions and interests to pursue them and corner them.

The attendees affirmed on continuing the crackdown to hunt down the wanted and remove all road blocks by force.

Prof. Sharaf Al-Kibsi

Hussein al-Najjar, 55, employee at the Police Academy I wish that Yemen gets better than before and I think that Federalism will help achieve this.

God willing, it will succeed because Yemen’s future depends on it.

Samar Yahya Suwaid, 23, TEFL student at the LIU (Lebanese International University)

Wajdi Abdull ah al-Kazemi

I believe that Yemen is not ready for such a decision. I feel that Yemen needs to feel more united in the coming years.

The NDC is the best way out of the dilemma that Yemen is facing.

This time, Yemen will recognize all the parties and discuss all the difficulties we bear. In addition, it is the time for the minorities to be heard. In my opinion, weapons have never been a solution; however, the blood that we have seen on TV will always remain in our hearts (remembered) and it will be the motive to deal with the problems peacefully!

Mohammed Mohammed Shar’abi, 26, employee

Mohammed Mohammed al-Shar’abi

al-

Many see the federalism concept as difficult and unacceptable in Yemen because many think of it as the first step in dividing Yemen into statelets. But, in my opinion, Federalism is the best solution to preserve the harmony of Yemen with all its sects and differences as some of the most important countries are federal states like the USA, Germany and Russia and on the Arab level we have the UAE as an example. Therefore, I don’t mind dividing Yemen into federal states or regions provided that they all will be under the sovereignty of one central (Federal) government, under one name.

The NDC to me as a youth is the first step for the harmonization and stability of all the sects in Yemen.

I hope that the NDC leads to practical steps that will not only raise the development aspects in the country and enhance the national unity spirit but, will also make the rule of law imposed on regardless of political, ethnic or tribal backgrounds, for patriotism demands acts not speeches.

Samar Yahya Suwaid

Nashwan al-Shawkani

Japan Supports Four Projects in Sana’a City

By Hesham Sami Al-Kibsi

The government of Japan has decided to extend Four grants amounting to $467,456 US for Sana’a City: “ The Project for Rehabilitating and Expanding Abdullah Ibn Masoud School in Bait Bows”, “The project for Improving Medical Services in Alayah Medical Complex in Al-Qadesiah”, “ The Project for Improving Public Health in Sho’ub District”, and “The Project for Construction of School and Literacy of Marginalized Children in Dar Salam”.

These 4 Grants have come under Japan’s Grant Assistance Scheme called “ Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects”, which aims at supporting smallscale community-based projects in the fields related to basic human needs, such as primary health care, basic education, environment and water in Yemen and other develop-

ing countries.

Mr.Katsuyoshi Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan for the Republic of Yemen, has signed the contracts respectively at the office of His Excellency Mr. Abdulqader Hilal, Mayor of Sana’a City today.

Since 2000, Japan funded 157 projects in Yemen under the scheme called“ Grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” in the fields of water, environment, health care, and education including the disabled and girls.

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Monday - March 18, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 22

PROFILE

The comprehensive National Dialogue Conference (NDC)

T

he comprehensive National Dialogue Conference is the actual conception of the second phase of the political transition in Yemen as stipulated by the GCC deal. This Conference is especially important because it will address crucial issues that will determine the shape of the new Yemen, and direct the future of the existing and upcoming generations.

Achieving the subsequent steps is predicated on its results, which are no less important than drafting a constitution and conducting the next presidential election. Slated to take place on 18 March 2013, the conference will last for six months.

The NDC Technical Committee has identified issues to addressed during the six-month conference, pursuant to the item (19) of the GCC deal, are as follows:

Issues of the Dialogue - Southern Issue

Roots of the issue

Contents of the issue

How to resolve the issue

Guarantee for non-recurrence of what happened in the south.

- Saadah Issue

Roots of the issue

Contents of the issue

Ways of resolving the issue

Guarantee for non-recurrence of what happened in Saadah.

- National Issues

Earlier political conflicts and related human rights violations The issues and rights of Hidden forcibly Human rights violations that occurred in the year 2011

- National tolerance and transitional justice

IDP issues and ways to address them.

Restoring the lands and money looted both inside the country and abroad due to the misuse of power.

Fighting terrorism.

- Building State– Constitution: Principles and foundations Identity of State Form of State System of State governance Electoral system

Legislative authority The judiciary

Administrative System - Good Governance

The rule of law The balance of power and responsibility The application of accountability and transparency

Achieving justice and equality Fight against corruption Equal opportunities for citizens Expanding popular participation

The efficiency of public administration

The role of civil society organizations The role of political parties Foundations of foreign policy - Foundations of the military and security and their roles

The foundations of building up the army nationally and professionally.

Ensuring that the military restructuring outputs are accordingly matching.

The role of army in the political life.

Security institution as a civil body.

- The independency of bodies Civil Service Media

Endowments Zakat duties

Human Rights (semiofficial) House of Fatwa Control bodies Parties’ Affairs

Group-related bodies (youths, women etc…)

- Special social and environmental issues Revenge Arms Outlaw armed groups Qat Diversity and tolerance Water and environment

- Rights and freedoms

Public rights and freedoms (political civil, economic, social cultural, intellectual, religious)

rights and freedoms private: (women, youths, children, elderly marriage, the marginalized, the disabled, expatriates, minorities, IDPs, refugees)

- Development, the comprehensive, integrated and sustainable

Economic cultural educational human development, health, social and political developments.

- Assurance of successful NDC outputs Formation of a committee representing all components involved to follow up the implementation of the NDC outputs (anticipated to be the same Conciliation Committee).

The authority of elected House Representatives to follow up and control the undertaking of the new government.

National, long-term partnership Code of Ethics UN guarantees

General Secretary:

The Secretariat for the National Dialogue is a team of staff and volunteers who will provide technical and logistical support to the Conference as well as promote and support the citizen engagement process for the dialogue. Support provided by the Secretariat will include access to issue research and subject matter experts; coordinating and supporting the Working Group citizen outreach; Conference logistics, security and management; communications; administration; budget management and much more. The job of the Secretariat is to ensure that the Conference is run efficiently, the Conference delegates are supported and that citizens are actively engaged throughout the process.

The NDC Secretariat will be responsible for providing all the services that will be required by the Conference to conduct its business in an efficient manner in addition to all the necessary facilities for the Conference sessions including documentations and records and necessary publications. The Secretariat will also provide transportation and accommodation for the participants in the Conference.

The Secretariat will provide all the services of the Conference including documentation, archiving and recording observations as well as provide support and management during the Conference.

The Secretariat staff will be selected in a transparent manner based on their qualifications and experience, and can be employed for

a specific period or for a long time according to the needs required by the process of providing effective support for the Conference.

The staff members will provide the names of members of the Secretariat and its work plan to the public through a website and financial documents that will be reviewed by internal and external auditors to ensure accountability.

Venues of the Conference

The Committee considers that the most appropriate plenary place to hold the Conference in is the capital Sana’a, with the possibility of holding some public sessions in the city of Aden in the event of a report by the General Conference. The Committee also considers that the cities below are available to host the work of the task forces: 1 - Aden 2 - Taiz 3 - Mukalla 4 Saada 5 - Hodeida 6 - with the possibility of holding some meetings abroad as an option in case of necessity.

Representation

The Technical Committee has held several ad hoc meetings to discuss the issue of the NDC Representation. In this regard, the committee was briefed on the views of the International Expert Group headed by Mr. Jamal Benomar, who proposed several options for discussion, in addition to the views of the committee members.

The committee discussed the issue of representation and its proportion devotedly in the face of an unexpected situation that the country is passing through. Such a situation requires giving priority to national interests than the factional ones, in addition to the requirements of the change process and the comprehensive transition to an entirely new stage in Yemen’s contemporary history. The committee discussed the following aspects: 1 – The components and actors involved in the NDC and the number of representatives.

2 – The selection mechanism for the of NDC members.

3– General criteria.

4 – Names of the NDC members.

The Committee approved in this regard the following:

1 - Ensuring the representation of the Southern people to be no less than 50 % of the total number of the NDC members; whereas women to be no less than 30 % and youths to be at least 20 % in all the components and events.

2 – Achieving a balance that reflects the participation of all the components of the Yemeni community in the total number of NDC President Hadi’s list will address any imbalance or weakness in any active participation or class in the society.

3 - Distribution of all seats as follows:

Component

Seats

GPC party and its partners

112

Islah Party

50

Yemen Socialist Party

37

Nasserist Party

30

5 parties in the government: (Arab Socialist Ba›ath Party; Yemeni Unionist Party; Union of Popular Forces; National Council; al-Haq Party)

20

5 X 4 = 20 Southern Movement

85

Houthis

35

Youths Women

40 40

Civil Society Organizations Other actors: Rashad Party 7; Justice and Building Party 7.

President will determine the rest of the members of this list (62)

40

Total

565

Allies include: Democratic Nasserist Party - National Democratic Front - Democratic September Organization - Liberation Front Party - Yemeni League Party - Social Nationalist Party - People’s Unionist Liberation Party - Ye-

76

meni Popular Unity Party - Peo ple’s Democratic Party (Crowd/ Hashd) - Green Social Party - Democratic Union Popular Forces - Arab Socialist Nationalist Ba’ath Party - Republican Union Party of Popular Forces. ........................................

Source: http://www.ndc.ye/

Fundraising for Sana’a Orphans on March 21 The Haddah Valley Junior High School (H.V.J.H) students will organize a ‘Mother’s Day Show’ and fundraising event all day long on support of the children of the Orphanage Foundation in Sana’a on Thursday March 21.

By mohammed kalfood

students from haddah valley junior high school

Socotra Press Tel: 01 - 505 430

Coinciding with the Mother’s Day, this fundraising is the second event by the group.

Last year a fundraising for the disabled, held by the group in Sana’a, raised more than YR 1 million. According to the organizers, Shaima, Noor and Nashwan who came to the Yemen Observer office, “The money to be raised by this event will allow the children at Sana’a orphanage to purchase much needed equipment such as mattresses, blankets, shoes, etc…”

“Our event will include a show, competitions, Flea Market, games, food and other attractions,” the organizers said.

Shaima one of the organizers said, “The orphans don’t have the basic needs; we want to help them get such needs they have been lacking for years..we need to feed them with meat.”

Sana’a Orphanage, founded in 1922, is now housing more than 1,500 orphans of different ages.