President Saleh speech on Unification Day

IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL
Dear Fellow Citizens in Yemen and abroad.
It is my pleasure to express my best wishes and greetings and congratulate all
Yemeni men, women, youths and elders on the 20th anniversary of the national day
and the elapse
of two decades on the achievement of the homeland's unity and the establishment of
the Republic of Yemen on the 22nd of May 1990.
The reunion of the Yemeni family and reunification of the Yemeni people rank has
been achieved on this great national occasion. Unity has restored dignity of people
and
respectful status, strength and pride of Yemen and has closed down and forever
separation and division. A new Yemen was born the Yemen of freedom, democracy,
development
and comprehensive prosperity and progress.
IMPROVING CITIZENS LIVING STANDARDS IS OUR BASIC CONCERN Dear Fellow Citizens
Celebrations of our people on the occasion of the national day of the Republic of
Yemen coincide
with the achievement of great accomplishments and changes at all political,
development, democratic, social and cultural and other fields. During celebrations
of this anniversary
inauguration and laying down foundation stones of a number of development and
service projects by the government and the private sector would take place.
In spite of the political and financial challenges our country has faced and
challenges of the world financial crisis which badly affected the strongest world
economies,
we have achieved great accomplishments at the levels of construction, development,
democracy and social progress. We would keep focusing on improving the living
standard
of people and continuing the process of construction and development in the homeland
with the aim of achieving a free, dignified, safe and prosperous life for citizens.
We express our thanks and appreciation for all brotherly and friendly countries
which supported Yemen, its unity and development mainly the brotherly states of the
Gulf
Cooperation Council and Friends of Yemen Group.
NO DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT SECURITY AND STABILITY We direct the government to continue
the process of the reforms and enhance the national economy through implementing
further
strategic projects which create job opportunities for youths and reduce rates of
poverty and unemployment as well as to start implementing the gas pipe line project
from
Marib to Maabar, modernization of Aden oil refinery, energy, petrochemicals, cement
and housing projects and promoting for investment and tourism and pushing forward
the
process of development which needs every one's cooperation for enhancing security
and stability. There would be no development without security and stability.
WE WELCOME NATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN LIGHT OF CONSTITUTION AND LAW Dear Fellow
Citizens We call upon all political parties and organizations and citizens inside
and outside
the homeland to carry out a responsible national dialogue within the framework of
our constitutional institutions without preconditions or obstacles. The basic
foundation
of such dialogue should be the February agreement signed between the General
People's Congress and the Joint Meeting Parties represented in the parliament. The
aim of the
dialogue should be the construction of the Yemen of 22nd of May, 26th of September
and 14th of October and bolstering the build up of the state of law and order and
abandoning
limited visions, political tactics, racial prejudiced, selfishness, individual,
regional, sectarian and racist radicalism. Every one should grow up as the homeland
has become
big with its blessed unity. It is absolutely forbidden for any one who belongs to
this homeland to carry out acts of sabotage and harm the homeland and citizens'
interests.
The homeland belongs to all of us and big enough for every one.
We welcome national partnership with all political forces in light of the
constitution and law and within the framework of a collective agreement.
In light of the results of dialogue, a government could be formed from all
influential political forces represented in the parliament especially the basic
partner in achieving
unity and our partners to defend it with the aim of holding parliamentary elections
on its scheduled date in light of the constitutional legitimacy and political
pluralism.
This reflects our keenness to turn over a new page and eliminate impacts resulted
by the 1993 crisis and the 1994 summer war.
On this great national occasion we give our directives to release all detainees on
the background of the sedition created by the Houthies in Saada and also detainees
who
violated the law in some directorates in the provinces of Lahaj, Abyan and Al-Dhalaae.
We hope they would benefit from this amnesty and become good citizens. We also
announce awarding all fighters of the armed and security forces, air forces and air
defence
and the popular forces, which heroically fought in the northern western zone, the
medal of duty and bravery. Pieces of land for building houses would be also given to
families
of martyrs and handicapped personnel of the armed and security forces and the
popular forces in recognition of the national duty they carried out defending the
revolution,
the republic and security and stability.
EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UP AND ADVANCE MILITARY AND SECURITY INSTITUTION
Dear Fellow Citizens As we celebrate on this dear national occasion, we express our
greetings
and appreciation for the armed and security forces protectors of the homeland that
carry out their duties in a complete heroic and honest way. We confirm that efforts
will
continue to cement the process of construction and modernization of the military and
security institutions and providing all care and support for their affiliates.
NO PLACE FOR TERROR AND EXTREMISIM IN YEMEN We also highly value successes achieved
by our security apparatuses in counter terrorism field and we call for
consolidating
efforts of every one in the homeland and to work as one team to counter terrorism
which damages the homeland, development, and citizens' interests and threatens
security
and social stability. We reiterate that there is no place for terrorism and
extremism in the Yemen of faith, wisdom, reasonability and peace.
Dear Fellow Citizens in the Arab and Islamic world The current challenges our
nation is facing require unity of ranks and enhancement of solidarity, integration
and coordination
as well as activation of joint Arab work, developing its mechanisms in order to cope
with all challenges and serve the supreme interests of the nation.
REGION PEACE RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL LEGITMACY RESOLUTIONS We feel
sorrow and sadness while we follow up sufferings of the Arab Palestinian people as
a result
of the unfair siege and violation of its human rights by Israel. We call upon the
international community on top of which the United States of America and permanent
member
states of the UN Security Council to use pressure on Israel to accept peace and
implement the international legitimacy resolutions related to the Arab Israeli
conflict in
a way that would end the Israeli occupation of the occupied Arab territories in
Palestine, Golan, South Lebanon and the establishment of the independent Palestinian
state
on the Palestinian national soil with its capital Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
We renew our call to stand with the brotherly people of Somalia, who was exhausted
by wars as well as to support efforts of the transitional government to maintain
security
and stability, restore the construction of the Somali state's institutions and the
return of thousands of Somali refugees to live peacefully and safely in their
country.
We highly value efforts exerted by the brotherly Sudan with the aim of maintaining
peace and resolving the problem of Darfur. We reiterate our support for Sudan, its
security,
stability, sovereignty and unity.
To conclude, once again on this valuable national occasion I renew my best wishes
and congratulations to you all. I ask Allah the Almighty to give mercy and
forgiveness
to martyrs of the homeland.
May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of God Be Upon You