|
|
  
Arabs should unify their stance before asking Russia’s support The killing of tens of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli troops is madness, Russian Ambassador to Yemen, Alexander Kalugin, told reporters on April 2 in a press conference. Russia which is exerting efforts to activate international endeavors to stop violence and find efficient solutions to this mounting tension has recently participated in issuing the UN Security Council resolution No. 1402. “We’re earnestly striving to promptly implement this resolution by making Israel withdraw its troops from the Palestinian Authority-administered territories and lift the siege on the office of the Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat,” he said. On the Saudi peace initiative, Kalugin, said Russia welcomed the Saudi initiative saying it (the imitative) formed the basis of peace in the Mideast. He stressed the importance of unifying the Arab stance towards their issues of common destiny topped by the Palestinian issue. “Arabs keep asking us and the international community to take strong actions in support of their issues. They should, before, take unified and strong stance on their parts,” he added. The international medical relief organization Mèdecins Sans Frontières (MSF), strongly denounced the obstruction of medical aid for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Territories by Israeli armed forces. In a press release on April 2, MSF condemned the harassment some of their workers where subjected to at some Israeli check points. “This latest incident illustrates once again the continued violation of humanitarian free access to patients,” said the release. It added that such incident is a total contradiction to the guarantees offered to their teams by the Israeli Defense Forces in the Occupied Territories concerning freedom of movement for medical teams. MSF expressed concerns about the apparent indifference of the army in such circumstances. This includes not only the behavior of the soldiers at checkpoints, but also the fact that the army allows paramilitary militias to intervene in their work. The Yemen Society for Consumers’ Protection issued on April 4 a list of mostly American-originated products to be boycotted. The statement called upon citizens to help the current boycott campaign being a success to support their Palestinians brothers in the Occupied Territories. The al-Quds Committee of the parliament has recently demanded putting the boycotting campaign in motion. Similarly, political parties and organizations demanded the full boycott of the products updated in the last list, and appealed mass media to create awareness on the part of people on the importance of boycotting as an arm against Zionism. More than 19 US-based companies and products appeared in the current list which included big international brands topped by Coca Cola and Procter & Gambles products. President Ali Abdulah Saleh has ultimately intervened to stop the hunger strike intended by two journalists, Saif al-Hadhiri, editor-in-chief of the al-Shumoo newspaper and journalist Mutahar al-Ashmuri as of Saturday April 6. The strike is said to be in protest of being detained at the Ministry of Interior without any legal warrant. President Saleh promised the two journalists to solve all their problems with the cabinet as well. The detention came at the directions of Prime Minister, Abdulqadir Bajamal in a reaction to being critical of the government’s corruption, said a press release by the al-Shumoo Newspaper.. Al-Ashmuri and al-Hathiri demanded unconditional release, considering their detention as alarmingly a threat to their lives. The General Prosecution denied it ordered the detention of the two journalists. Qat may aggravate disturbances (hallucination), induce aggressive behavior in psychotic patients, said researchers during the National Conference on Qat which took place at the Police Officers’ Club in Sana’a between April 6-7. They added it could cause elevation of trial blood pressure, affect the liver, probably as a result of pesticides leading to toxic damage of the liver, be associated with increased risk of low birth weight in infants of qat chewing pregnant women, etc. The conference also dealt with the qat impact on society, agriculture and water resources. To help the country get rid of qat the participants recommended increasing taxes on qat, teaching children at schools about its hazards as well as employing the mass media in the qat-fighting campaign. The also urged upon the government to set up sport clubs, recreation facilities, public libraries, gardens and parks for youths to spend their time. The conference aimed at enhancing the public awareness about qat dangers and effects on humans, society and economy as well as setting up a clear governmental strategic view on how to gradually get rid of qat’s negative effects. The Prime Minister, Mr. Abu Alqader Ba Jammal and a number of ministers diplomats, ambassadors, attended the event. The state Minister for Human Rights, Dr. Waheeba Fara’e has appealed to the international committee for Human Rights, the Amnesty International as well as organizations interested in human rights to back up our brothers in Palestine who have become prey to the Israeli killers in the occupied territories. “They should allow the UNRAW, Red Across as well as other human organization to perform their duties and apply international laws,” she added. Germany offered to Yemen technical support and training course for Yemeni policemen during a meeting between the German Ambassador to Yemen and Yemen’s minister of INterior on Thursday in Sana’a. This is part of the generous support Germany has been extending to Yemen. Preparations are underway to hold Sana’a Festival for story-telling during the coming month. This comes within a framework to activate the cultural activities at both local and international levels. -The World Bank has granted Yemen a loan estimated at USD 27,5 million to develop the health sector. The loan aims at ensuring the health services for poor women and children. -The al-Afif Cultural Foundation organized a number of lectures on ‘Revenge’ on April 2 in its headquarters in Sana’a. - The Second Cultural Lebanese Week is planned to start on May 11 2002. Activities of the Week will center on poetry, arts, music, and folkloric heritage. Arrangements for the event were discussed in the meeting of the Yemeni and Lebanese ministers of culture. |
Advertise | Subscribe | Feedback | Discussion
Yemenis Abroad | Weather | Classified
Postcards | Links | Newsletter
Opinion Poll
Any comments or suggestions should be emailed to Yemen Times Webmaster