BY MOHAMMED BIN SALLAM
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Under the motto, "Jerusalem is the Nation's Jihad Link and its Civilized Revival," the Arab Baath Socialist Party held its third conference in Sana'a Thursday, calling for the rejection of acts of sabotage and terror and fighting attempts aimed at destabilizing Yemen's security.
A speech delivered by the Secretary of the Ba'ath Party, Dr. Qasem Sallam centered on the Palestinian issue after holding several extensive meetings related to the national, regional and international issues.
Around 1,200 Ba'ath members and more than 3200 citizens from various governorates attended in the conference.
The party has issued at the closing session a statement of decisions and instructions, along with the party's attitude towards those issues.
At the national level, the statement deals with local issues describing them as, "tragic".
The statement called for mustering efforts to reform the economic and development program. It also called for enlarging the domestic production base and protection of Yemeni domestic agricultural and industrial production.
The statement emphasized on defending Yemen's unity and the freedom of Yemen's independence and its national sovereignty.
The statement focused on struggle and persistence to enhance the state of order and law and to consolidate the peaceful transfer of power.
The Ba'ath Party has called for encountering ethnic and clannish fanaticism, sectarianism, and settling disputes through constructive dialogue and peaceful democratic means.
At the regional level the Ba'ath Party has called on all the political parties and mass organizations to shoulder their responsibility for performing their role throughout all Arab countries to encounter the probable US-led war against Iraq.
The statement has called for adopting a nationwide campaign for boycotting British, Jewish and American goods.
It has further called for activating the role of the Arab Joint Defense Pact and the Arab League Charter and called for lifting the embargo imposed on Iraq.
The statement has called for activating dialogue between the national movements and Islamic movements within the Arab region for establishing links among nations.
"There should be a clear definition for Jihad, considering it as a right to defend its rights and sovereignty. It is the right that is ensured and guaranteed by the international charters and legislation.
Leaders and representatives of Arab political parties and organizations who had taken part in the conference had confirmed their rejection of the American-British aggression on Iraq and condemned the Zionist crimes against their Palestinian brethren. They demanded the Arab League and Arab regimes to perform their roles in confronting the American-British-Zionist attack against Iraq and Palestine.
At the international level, participants demanded the rejection of uni-pole dominance.
Dr. Qasem Sallam has been re-elected as a secretary for the Ba'ath Party in Yemen and Mr. Abdulwahed Howash, as a deputy security.
In addition to this, 10 Ba'ath Party members were elected as members of Yemen leadership of the party.

Preparations are in full swing to hold the Yemeni Civilization exhibition in Spain.
The 26 September weekly newspaper said that the exhibition is to be launched in the capital of Spain on Feb. 5. It will last for three months and will include more than 600 pieces of antiquities.
The exhibition is geared to help promote tourism industry in Yemen.
It is expected that a number of Europeans will also offer their collections of Yemeni antiquities.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni-German Archaeological Expedition is working in the historical city of Sirwah in Marib governorate, 173 km east of Sana'a.
Research is being conducted on this historical city which was the first capital to the Kingdom of Sheba. It is one of the key tourist historical attractions in Yemen.
At the end of this year, a facility is to be built instead of moving the antiquities to the capital or any other city in the republic.
The facility will be used for protecting the historical engravings which are easily damaged by humidity, winds, rains and heat of the sun.

MOHAMMED AL-QADHI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Judge Hamoud al-Hitar, a member of the Yemeni Supreme Court, has strongly denied that he said Sheikh Abudlmajeed al-Zindani or any other political or religious figure is involved in the USS Cole suicide attack.
His denial comes after the Los Angelos Times quoted al-Hitar last Wednesday as saying that prisoners held in connection with the Cole attack told local authorities that al-Zindani issued a decree ordering the strike.
Al-Hitar, head of the committee that's now holding dialogue with Yemeni Afghans in prisons, refuted the allegation and said Saturday that he did talk about the involvement of any political or religious figure in the Cole attack.
The USS Cole exploded on October 12, 2000 in Aden, where 17 US sailors were killed and 39 others injured.
He pointed out that he did not talk with the US newspaper editor at all about al-Zindani, head of Islah Shura Council and rector of al-Eman University, and his involvement in the attack.
The US newspaper reported that al-Hitar said "the government had not investigated the allegations against Sheikh Abdul Majeed al-Zindani to confirm whether he did issue such a religious order, or fatwa, targeting the warship Cole," adding, "People suspected in the Cole case have said they acted according to a fatwa by Sheik Abdul Majeed."
Al-Hitar pointed out in a statement to The Times read in English by his daughter, "However, I cannot verify if it was done according to a fatwa by Abdul Majeed."Yemen Times tried to get al-Zindani to comment on these allegations but it could not get through.
However, Islah spokesman Hamoud Hashim al-Tharihi flatly, according to the US newspaper, denied the allegation.
"The allegations - and the government's reluctance to investigate, or at least to acknowledge that it is investigating - demonstrate the extraordinary challenges facing Yemen and U.S. officials trying to fight terrorism here," the US newspaper said.
"Authorities can expect greater opposition if they try to extradite, arrest or even question someone of Zindani's stature," it added.
The LA Times said Zindani is a former teacher and confidant of Osama bin Laden and that his radical anti-American, anti-Jewish brand of Islam not only had been tolerated until recently by the central government but was also rewarded with money, authority and legitimacy.
Zindani, who fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, played a central role in helping end a civil war in Yemen in 1994.
"The United States has long wanted to question Zindani in connection with the Cole attack, but authorities here said that the prisoners' statements are the first evidence that has surfaced in Yemen that might connect Zindani with the blast," the newspaper added.
The U.S. Embassy in Sana declined to comment, saying only that the investigation into the incident is continuing.
Zindani appeared on Yemen TV last week preaching against fanaticism and terrorism. He denounced terrorist acts and said they had nothing to do with Islam.
The same US newspaper said that after the Cole bombing that Zindani and other prominent figures in the government had connections with the incident.

REDHWAN AL-SAQQAF
ADEN BRANCH
The 3rd Italian-Yemeni Conference was concluded last Thursday at Aden Hotel after 2-day meetings discussing diabetics, its effects on heart diseases and its relation to other diseases like ENT, eye and kidney.
Eighteen working papers were presented by eighteen Yemeni specialists from Yemeni universities and 16 Italian specialists coming for various Italian universities, and more than 300 attendants were present at the conference.
In the inauguration, Dr. Abdulnasir Al-Muniabari Minister of health and population delivered a welcoming speech, indicating the great benefits expected from the conference and reflected on the good relations between Yemen and Italy. He emphasized that this conference will develop the medical exchange between the two countries and in other fields, hoping that the conference could offer some solutions to many medical problems existing in the Yemeni society.
. Taha Ahmed Ghanim, governor of Aden, expressed in his speech his hope that the conference would be able to address the diabetic problem in Yemen and result in some guidance in tackling the
problem locally. He pointed to the governmental efforts in executing such projects under the wise patronage of President Ali Abdulla Saleh.
Dr. Abbas Zabarah Secretary General of the Yemeni-Italian Friendship Society expressed his pleasure with the conference, indicating that it has come after persistent efforts by members of the society from both sides, as well as the ministry of health and the Italian embassy in Sana'a. He also expressed his concern that the disease has spread widely in Yemen and in the world in general.
The Italian ambassador Mr. Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte conveyed his thanks to the participants and the contributors to the success of the conference, and mentioned that this is a chance for expertise exchange between the two countries. Mr. Sanfelice confirmed his country's support for such activities and for Yemen in general and pointed out that Italy would provide medical assistance to Yemen and support in facing diabetic disease. The conference is considered a progressing step in combating diabetic diseases in Yemen and its influences to other diseases.

MOHAMMED AL-MASANI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
The Saudi Fund for Development has agreed to offer credit facilities to finance Yemeni national exports with YR 12.2 million.
Ebraheem Mohammed al-Mefleh, general manager for the exports program, representative of SFD, Ahmed al-Hamadani , head of the board of directors of National Bank for Trade and Commerce, Hussein Fadhl, general manager of Yemeni Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Amer Toqan, Sheba Islamic Bank assistant general manger for investment were the Yemeni representatives of the Yemeni who signed the deal with the Saudis on Jan. 8.
It's believed that the credit lines will enhance trade between the two countries now estimated at YR 65 million.
The credit also aims at giving Saudi exporters confidence in their exports to Yemeni markets and also lessen the difficulty of repayment.
The assigned agreements require sums go to the three banks to finance the Yemeni exporters who want to buy Saudi products.
This is the seventh agreement involving Yemen, after it has made similar deals with other Arab banks like Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria and Tunisia.
The Saudi ambassador in Sana'a, Mohammed Mardas al-Katani, and Ali al-Sykhi, the deputy minister of industry, along with Abdu Ellah al-Mamari and Ms Eman Kamal Hassan from the National Bank and a number of Yemeni-Saudi businessmen took part in the deal.

Al-Afif Cultural Foundation has announced its program for the year 2003 that contains a number of activities such as various cultural lectures, discussion meetings, and cultural nights for poetry, stories, music and theatre shows.
Ceremonies also will include:
- Exhibition opening ceremony
- Al-Afif 2003 prize giving
- Cultural program 2003 conclusion ceremony

In the past year the Yemeni government started the implementation of its poverty alleviation strategy.
Nevertheless, the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni population are still extensive. Today, a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line and more than a third has no access to safe drinking water.
"Therefore, the European Commission's Humanitarian Office has recently allocated an additional amount of €1.59 million for four projects focusing on the most immediate needs of certain deprived communities in rural areas", explained Mr. Rainer Schierhorst, head of the European Commission's Office in Sana'a.
The funds will be used for the following four projects:
- Emergency Assistance For Water Supply In Taiz Governorate, Districts Of Al-Mokha And Wazaieh, implemented by the French NGO DIA
- Emergency assistance to basic health services in the Tihama Strip, implemented by the Italian NGO CINS
- Post-crisis reconstruction and rehabilitation operation in favor of the victims of the hurricane in al-Mahra governorate, implemented by UNICEF
- Rehabilitating and restoring maternal and child health care services in Dhale' governorate, implemented by the Italian NGO Coopi
This new decision brings the total amount allocated to Yemen by the European Commission's Humanitarian Office since 1998 to some  8 million, whereas the total funds allocated by the European Commission to Yemen amount to some € 25 million per year.

The first national conference for girls health project entitled "Circumcision is Harmful for Girls and Women" kicked off Dec. 30 in Aden University Hall.
The conference aimed at coming up with a number of suggestions and recommendations to limit socially and physically harmful consequences that accompany this phenomenon.
It focused on rural areas in which circumcision is widespread and also attempted to include the mass media in raising awareness about this phenomenon.
The opening ceremony was attended by Taha Ahmed Ghanem, Aden governor, Dr. Saleh Ali Basara, Aden University rector, Deputy of the Aden governor, the manager of the health office in Aden, Ms. Fawzia Hamed, director of the project for girls health, Dr. Suhear Talba, the regional coordinator, Ms. Raheeda al-Hamadani, and the head of the women national committee.
Fourteen participants from a number of governorates of republic along with experts and doctors focused on the healthy, physical and social damages of the circumcision, and relayed various experiences and surveys.
Ms Shafiqa Abdu Ahmed, specialist in nursing and delivery, pointed out that the circumcision problem, which is done under pretext protecting girl purity, is considered one of the traditions and norms has no religious and legitimate relation or connection at all.
"In my opinion, purity comes from through parents' good education and discipline and observation for their children, not through slicing the organ of a body, which is considered an atrocious interference in God's creation," she said.
"In my opinion, this phenomenon is considered one of the shapes of violence and discrimination against women and one of the traditions that disgraces women' dignity and humanity and it should be considered a mistake, sin and crime" she added.
"I would like to confirm that circumcision for female is believed an aggression particularly on the girl physically, psychologically and socially, and on the society in general. There is a lot of suffering that accompany the girl since birth until being a wife and mother bearing the bleeding and agony that accompanied this operation.
"The bleeding sometimes can be controlled and sometimes cannot that causing the death in most cases. Besides there are damages that appear later on such as frequent inflammation in the same area or continuos infection that can reach to the inner genitals like pelvis' and finding scares and agglutination that woman suffers from all her life that will prevent her to sexually response and have pleasure that creating problems among the couples and disconnect the family relations," said Ahmed.

As part of its plan to go high-tech, the Yemeni government has inaugurated www.yemen.gov.ye, its official web site.
Engineer Kamal Hussein al-Gabri, the general manager of the telecommunication authority, said that the authority inaugurated the web site for e-government.
The project to help bring the government into wireless communications cost $150,000.
According to Abdu al-Malek al-Mulemee, the minister of communication, preparation for this web site has started six months ago through several ministries.
The inauguration of this web site comes in the framework of a national program of information technology (electronic government). It is still in his first phase.
It contains information and data for each ministry as well as links through which users can get local and international news and electronic services, such as getting a telephone directory for members, results of the general secondary school, news from Yemen's parliament along with news of ministers and international personalities in addition to another services.
The web site also has a connection to get information about President Ali Abduallah Saleh, such as his biography, plus and his role in modern Yemeni history.
The second phase of the information technology program will include a number of services that will be made available online, rather than only in ministry offices.

A new project to fight tuberculosis in Yemen was announced by Dr. Abdu al-Nasser al-Munaibari, Minister of Health and Population and Taha Ahmed Ghanem, Aden governor, on Wednesday.
A regional center for fighting tuberculosis is to be built by December, 2003 in the southern governorate's al-Mansora area.
It's being made possible with the help of Japanese aid.
Dr. al-Munaibari said during an announcement ceremony that "on behalf of all the employees of the ministry and its branches in the different governorates in the republic and in the local and executive authority in Aden, I greatly thank the Japanese government for the constant support for Yemen in the health field."
The Japanese government supports Yemen in various fields.
This project will offer services in fighting tuberculosis. Its services will not restrict on the Aden citizens.
The Japanese ambassador also said, "I am honored by attending the inauguration ceremony. The Yemeni government has exerted efforts to fight this disease."
He added that the Japan support comes through the International Cooperation Agency JICA.
There are an estimated 350 cases of tuberculosis cases in Aden alone.
Abdu al-Kareem Shaif, the secretary-general for the local council and Kharama al-Raee, deputy of the health ministry, along with Nasser al-Ahwar, the general manager of health and population office attended the ceremony as well.

Tribal sources have told the Yemen Times that Yemen's central security have been in Mareb close to the Horiab al-Karamesh area, and it's believed they're tracking Abu Asem, one of the al-Qaeda network wanted elements, had passed through.
Other sources point out that Asem has been moving in the mountains area of the governorate after his departure from Al-Jawf to Mareb last month.
The forces has attempted to arrest Abu Asem but they cannot pinpoint his whereabouts as he is moving constantly, unlike Abu Ali al-Harithi who was assassinated with six fellows by an predator drone plane two months ago.
Abu Asem was close to the place that Abu Ali al-Harithi was killed, but has moved.
The sources mentioned that Asem, who has extensive financial support, can hide for a long time.
Recently, a decision has been issued by President Ali Abduallah Saleh to release 30 extremists, who were central security prisoners in charged of extremism, after they announced repentance.
Al-Osbu newspaper mentioned last Thursday that security forces detained about 120 persons described as Islamic extremists, who were arrested after that assassination of Jarallah Omar and the American aid workers in Jibla.

A delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently in Yemen for the final steps to reopen its Yemen USAID office and define future program goals.
USAID is expected to continue to support the Poverty Reduction Strategy and to provide assistance in vital areas such as health and education, all based on the US government commitment to enhance the welfare of the Yemeni people. This emphasizes the importance that the U.S. government accords to development as a necessary companion to security measures.
Since the 1960s, USAID has carried out numerous development programs in Yemen, such as road-building, water projects, building of schools, agricultural research and mineral surveys, NGO development, legislative and judicial reform, university scholarships and health training.