Yemen celebrates tenth unity anniversary facing internal, external challenges
Yemen, Politics, 5/22/2000

Yemen as it celebrates today the 10th anniversary of its unity is facing a series of internal and external challenges.

After it succeeded in eliminating the consequences of the Gulf war and " the war of cessation of its two parts (South and North)," the Yemeni authorities on Sunday put final touches on the special preparations for the celebrations which will be held amid strong security measures with the participation of 1200 senior invitees, foremost remarkable of them are the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika, his Mauritania's counterpart Mu'weya Wild Sedi Ahmad al-Taye, the ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani and the Iraqi vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan.

The state-run "September 26" paper said that unity was achieved despite all challenges and was reinforces despite all obstacles."

However, this optimism is in contradiction with the state of objection among the people's circles in a country which is to be proud that it enjoys a certain level of democracy and self expression that few of its Arab Gulf neighbors have.

This objection and the feeling of unrest was reflected in violent demonstrations observed in June 1998, following the increase in fuel prices and certain foodstuffs in the framework of a reforms program which was started in 1995 under the supervision of the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Yemen was obliged to carry out vast economic reforms to counter the return back of one million and a half Yemeni workers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on the background of the Gulf crisis, a matter which deprived the country from a main source for hard currency.

Also came the " war of cessation" in which forces of the government's northern forces achieved victory in May and June in 1994 so as a further need for this program has become evident as its costs reached US $ 13 billion.

Yemen also witnessed two border disputes: the first was in the north with Saudi Arabia and the second was in the Red Sea with Eritrea.

Thanks to the structural reform program Yemen could reduce its foreign debts to US $ 4.9 billion by the end of 1999, against US $ 8.9 billion just five years ago, according to the IMF.

Yet, the Yemeni economy is still dependent on oil which ensures almost 95% of the Yemeni exports. Oil revenues in 1998 reached US $ 453 million. Yemen, in addition, started a promising project to set up warehouses at Aden airport. the first phase of this project started in March 1999. It also works to establish a free zone area to attract foreign investors.

Nevertheless, despite its strategic location, natural and touristic potentials, investors are still fearful to invest in Yemen because of fears of corruption and the repeated kidnapping operations of foreigners.

On the external level, Yemen eliminated the outcome of the Gulf war and restored back its position on the regional and international levels through maintaining reconciliation with Kuwait, in particular and in strengthening relations with the western states.

The main success for the Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh was in the economic openness together with organizing of multi parliamentary elections and the first presidential elections through direct voting in 1999.

Previous Stories:
  Yemen, Saudi Arabia for boosting security relations   (5/17/2000)
  Yemen takes extreme security measures prior to national celebration   (5/16/2000)
  Chairman of yemen central bank heads to lebanon for arab banks union meeting   (5/15/2000)
  Oil investments in Yemen should be encouraged   (5/13/2000)
  Oman - Yemen to increase trade as Muscat receives delegation   (5/13/2000)
  Extremist accused of kidnapping foreigners arrested in Yemen   (4/26/2000)
  Yemeni, Iranian presidents for developing relations   (4/20/2000)
  Kuwait's crown prince confers with Yemeni parliament speaker   (4/12/2000)
  Italy vows to contribute to Yemen's development   (4/7/2000)
  Yemeni opposition calls for withdrawing confidence from government over Israeli delegation visit   (4/6/2000)
  Further arrests in Yemen   (4/3/2000)
  Pensioning off some Yemeni officers and diplomats   (4/1/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search