President Saleh’s Address to the Nation on 26 September Revolution

ANA’A:On Thursday, President Ali Abdullah Saleh delivered an address to the nation on the eve of the 41st anniversary of 26 September Revolution. It is my pleasure to welcome you while you celebrate the anniversary ofa streak of victories, the 41st anniversary of 26 September Revolution, the 40th anniversary of the 14th October Revolution and the 36th anniversary of the Independence Day, said President Saleh. President Saleh said the revolution has certainly yielded “many of the outcomes”, it was oriented toward. “These outcomes brought advantages for people across the homeland.” The celebrations of the great occasion, President Saleh added, are continuing thanks to the fresh democratic momentum that is sustaining the blesses of the revolution on the nation although “amid transformations on the level of the local, regional and international landscapes.” President Saleh paid tributes to the “heroes” who sacrificed their blood in defending the revolution. “Now after four decades from the time of September 26 and October 14 revolutions, we remember those heroes whom God blessed with martyrdom.” The first gunshots of the Yemeni “revolutionists” which destroyed the crumbling Imamite regime in Sana’a had a similarly great impact in so far that it later matured to a revolution that overturned the occupation entity and its collaborators in Aden. “As the sun of September 26 rose on Sana’a, the largest part of the homeland was lit, the revolutionists were able to see their path in the rest of the country. The flame of 14th October victory on the peaks of Radfan mountains gave the light to the revolutionists and the Liberation War fighters to go ahead with their struggle against the occupation until Independence was achieved on 30th November, 1967,” said President Saleh. President Saleh reiterated that the revolution was aimed to raise the standard of the social, cultural and spiritual life of the Yemeni citizens. He cited the emergence of so many schools, colleges and public health facilities all over the country as part of the “outcomes of the revolution.” “Large networks of roads, telecommunication and water” have been built.” “What the nation can be proud of today is a patriotic generation into whom, the great principles of the revolution have been instilled, a generation of broader knowledge and awareness, open-mindedness and capability to build the prosperous tomorrow.” The President said that the revolution bred “an instrument for defending the sovereignty of the nation and guard its interests against threats.” He made plain that the policy running the country now is “practical, firm, prudent and dynamic,” and recognizes the mutual interests and contributes to the global stability and “war on terror.” “In response to the experiences of the past and the expected future challenges, Yemen’s unity associated with democracy came as one of the most valuable goals of the 26th September and 14th October revolutions.” President Saleh elaborated on the advantages of the unity and democracy saying that they have “opened new horizons” for the people of Yemen “to keep pace with the scientific and technological advances and make up for the advances they missed during the secession times.” The political and economic reforms in the middle of the 1990s came as “an inevitable” maneuver to refresh substance of the revolution and cope with the new challenges. President Sale noted that the nation made remarkable successes in this regard. “Thanks to God, Yemen managed to halt economic deterioration, reduce the deficit of the state budget, promote the value of the national currency, achieve economic stability, fix prices and make other successes that ensure welfare for the citizens in the present and the future alike.” President Saleh called for the acceleration of poverty fighting and development strengthening efforts. “Today we are living amid consecutive and major challenges, economic, cultural and political globalization and information and technology information. The gap between the rich and the poor nations is broadening, and it is our duty to withstand these serious challenges through a contemporary outlook of a world where unfashionable ideas are doomed to collapse and everything should be reviewed . The world is transforming swiftly imposing on us to adapt to this volatile landscape.” “The concepts, conditions and tools of yesterday can’t work for the materialization of today’s victory.” “New concepts and methods have to be invented” every now and then. Although President Saleh said that the past is part of the history, he did not rule out the need to look back. “The past experiences can be useful to learn from.” President said the awareness of Yemeni people has become free after adopting the democratic system and that the democracy set up general principles for developing capacities of the society and involving people in making decision. He called on government and parliament and all officials to realize new changes and challenges, and find contemporary and realistic solutions for problems that face the nation. He pointed out to the importance of entering long-term scientific and technical revolution to build human beings according to modern basics with the aim of achieving the goals of development. Regarding unemployment in the society, president called government and concerned bodies to put it in their priorities by adopting the technical training and rehabilitation through setting up training institutes and colleges to serve development process and provide further job opportunities. “The society is suffering from the high rate of unemployment among graduating students, in the time, there is insufficient vocational cardres ,” he said. He pointed out that the national economy is the main factor of progress and “key of success” in different fields of development. He said the government interested in boosting the national economy through putting correct planning based on a clear strategy for investments that lead to positive results, and protecting the national resources. He pointed out to the importance of making use o the human resources and Yemeni capabilities and setting up national and active mechanism for monitoring and assessment. “We focus on finding further strategic projects, improving investmental climate, removing all obstacles such as corruption and complicated bureaucratic system, and giving opportunity for private and cooperative sectors to play their role in development,” he said. He indicated that the future tasks of the government are developing human resources, enhancing living standards of citizens, combating unemployment and poverty, widening network of social insurance, and boosting level of social services. In his speech, president Saleh greeted individuals of military and security forces for their sacrifices for realizing security and stability, protecting unity and goals of Yemeni revolution. As for the current Arab situation, president described it as bad situation, saying that the current situation of Arab position is weak and unable to face the new challenges and risks surrounding Arab nation. He added that the only way to go beyond this situation is unity, solidarity, and integration between Arab countries on all political, economic, cultural, social, security and military levels. President Saleh pointed out to the initiatives and proposals presented to reform current Arab situation, saying that active Arab Union will achieve hopes and ambitions of Arab nation and protect interests of Arab peoples. He added that the initiative of setting up Arab Union is considered as an integral vision for other Arab initiatives and it was sent to all Arab countries to give their suggestions and opinion on it. With regard to Palestinian issue, president said that Israel challenges international community and resolutions of international legitimacy as it is practicing all kinds of aggressive and terrorist acts against the unarmed Palestinian people. “The Israeli extremism reached the point of threatening to expel the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from his homeland or kill him, while he is the elected president and he is the symbol of struggling.” He said. President reiterated condemnation of Yemen for the “irresponsible” Israeli decision to expel Arafat, saying that the decision would lead the region to further violence and instability. He appealed to the international community and member states in Security Council topped by United States to pressure on the Israeli government to give up this decision and implement international resolutions on the peace process. On Iraqi issue, president said, Iraqi people should have the right of self-determination, occupation should come to an end. We will stand by the Iraqi people and their national choices that insure stability and security of their territories, he said. On Sudanese issue, president reiterated Yemeni solidarity with the Sudanese people and all efforts that insure its stability and security. He added that Yemen would continue its support for bringing peace and security to Somalia. President said that the terror is the epidemic of this age, and the whole world is suffering from it, pointing out to Yemeni efforts in supporting war against terror. He called for holding an international conference with the objective of finding out a specified definition for terrorism. AA/AH/NMSABA