Mr. Seiichiro Noburo, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Bureau
at the Foreign Ministry of Japan, arrives in Sanaa for a three-day official
visit next week. During December 12-15, the Japanese official will meet
several high-ranking government officials, including the Foreign Minister,
Dr. Abdul-Karim Al-Iryani.
Progress in Electric Supply
The Minister of Electricity and Water, Mr. Ali Hameed Sharaf, is in Washington.
He has just concluded a US$ 51 million loan deal with the World Bank, which
will finance the Dhahban Electric Plant. Situated in the outskirts of Sanaa
city, the plant is seen as an emergency supply unit to feed the rising
energy needs of Sanaa. An Italian firm, Ansaldo, picked up the contract.
At another level, a French firm has completed last week the installation
of the Mukalla generators. That deal cost US$ 7 million.
Electric supply in Yemen has relatively stabilized over the last few
months.
YCRO Launched
The Yemeni Children's Rights Organization (YCRO) was publicly launched
on Monday, December 1st in Sanaa. According to its charter, the YCRO is
a voluntary NGO which aims "to raise awareness of the importance of
implementing the international Child's Rights convention." It also
aims to "develop the knowledge of, and train, social workers dealing
with children, and to cooperate with local and international governmental
organizations and NGOs in this regard."
Hodeida Cultural Week Concluded
As part of celebrating the 30th anniversary of independence - 30 November
- week-long cultural activities were concluded on December 4th in Hodeida
and Zabeed. Organized by the Hodeida Writers' Union, the University of
Hodeida, and the National Youth Center, the activities included cultural
and education seminars as well as poetry and short story competitions.
Internet Costs Most in Yemen
The Internet operator in Yemen, TeleYemen, probably charges the highest
subscription fees in the world, said a letter addressed to the Minister
of Communication and signed by a number of the most senior officials in
the country. The signatories include the Chairman of the Consultative Council,
the Foreign Minister, and several other ministers, university professors,
and businessmen. The letter requested the Minister of Communication to
order a review of the Internet subscription fees.
The Internet service is often cut off while the user is in mid operation.
1998 Budget Endorsed
The Council of Ministers has on Saturday, December 6th held an extraordinary
meeting to endorse the state's general budget and the investment program
of 1998. Following the cabinet's endorsement, the proposed budget was forwarded
to parliament for ratification.
Public spending during 1998 is estimated at YR 350.55 billion; while
the state revenue is estimated at YR336.583 billion, i.e., the budget deficit
is around YR25.952 billion.
Immunization Campaign:
Phenomenal Success
The Minister of Health has announced the final results of the second round
of the National Days Campaign Against Polio which was conducted during
23-25 November. The originally set number of children to be vaccinated
was 3,800,000; while the actual number vaccinated was 4,356,668. The number
of children injected with Vitamin A was 2,729,822. So the immunization
campaign has achieved 111% of its objectives.
