1- Yemeni-Saudi relations are at their lowest point, and can escalate
to military confrontation
2- The Central Bank puts moratorium on giving loans and credit to 102
prominent businessmen for defaulting on their previous loans
3- Mutual exchanges of corruption accusations foiled Islah-PGC reconciliation
efforts in Ibb
4- Yemeni students in Poland staged a sit-in at the Yemeni Embassy
in Warsaw demanding their monthly allowances for third quarter of 1997
Article Summary:
Deadly Silence - editorial
Despite uncovering the Saudi involvement in the recent bombing incidents
in Yemen, the tone of media offensives has gone down to a deadly silence.
At the same time, however, diplomatic shuttling missions have increased.
Saudi Arabia took advantage of the post Gulf War period, when the balance
of power was, and still is, in its favor, to demand more concessions and
compromises from Yemen.
The most dangerous aspect of the memorandum of understanding, signed
by the two countries two years ago, is that it recognizes the Tayif agreement.
Following the 1934 war when Saudi Arabia annexed Yemeni territory, the
Tayif agreement recognized the status quo, but was later rejected by the
republican regime in Yemen.
AL-THAWRI: Sanaa weekly, 8-1-98.
(Yemeni Socialist Party)
Main Headlines:
1- The Yemeni Organization for Defense of Human Rights, Geneva, called
on all Arab and Afro-Asian human rights bodies to demand the release of
a number of political detainees in Hadhramaut
2- Yemeni political parties are to send a Ramadhan gift - a plane-load
of medical supplies - to Iraq, as suggested by Al-Haqq Party
3- Three bombings took place in different places last week in Ja'ar,
Abyan
4- A German tourist, 17, was raped in the coastal town of Khokha by
the son of an MP - investigations continue
Article Summary:
Teachers Leave Abyan
Parents in Rassd, Abyan, have expressed their annoyance by the suspension
of primary and secondary schooling since the beginning of the current academic
year. A number of recently appointed teachers left their schools in Rassd
because the Ministry of Finance has failed to allocate them their monthly
salaries.
On another level, the Ministry of Education offices in Abyan has deducted
YR 3,000 off the monthly salary of each teacher working in the governorate.
Their excuse is that they need to counter balance their budget deficit.
AL-TAJAMMU': Aden weekly, 5-1-98.
(Yemeni Unitary Congregation Party)
Main Headlines:
1- Condolences on the death of Omar Al-Jawi continue to pour in at
party headquarters from Yemeni and Arab figures and organizations
2- The Aden Refinery spent $500,000 in 1997 on financing medical treatment
for its ill workers abroad
3- Malaria & worms are prevalent in Moseimar, Lahaj, because of
the widespread of marshes and stagnant ponds
Article Summary:
What sort of privatization is this? by Mohammed Shayadil
Despite the calls to prepare Aden to become an international port,
it seems that all the ailments plaguing the port of Hodeida have been transferred
to Aden.
The loading and unloading of ships' cargoes in Aden are being given
to private firms operating in Hodeida, which led to the deterioration of
similar services in that port. Services in the port of Aden were going
very smoothly. There is no need to privatize them.
The container platform cost the port authorities $40 million, and it
is being handed over to incompetent private operators. There is nothing
wrong with privatization, except when it is used as a tool to benefit and
favor a number certain individuals.
AL-SAHWA: Sanaa weekly, 8-1-98.
[Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah)]
Main Headlines:
1- Head of Islah bloc in parliament: "Our rejection of the 1998
general budget is a matter of principle."
2- Islah Secretary-General: "Our opposition does not rely on media
noises."
3- New appointments of senior officials at the Ministry of Education
were based on partisan allegiances
Article Summary:
Hidden Expenditure
The financial statement of the 1998 general budget showed that there
are undocumented expenditures. For example, the financial bulletin issued
by the Central Bank regarding public expenditure during the third quarter
of 1997 showed that YR 1.173 billion was put under 'miscellaneous.' This
sum was not entered under any of the general budget sections, classified
or otherwise. Financial violations worth billions of riyals went uninvestigated
during the last few years.
AL-BALAGH: Sanaa weekly, 6-1-98.
[Islamic Action Movement (being formed)]
Main Headlines:
1- The Prime Minister: "All subsidized commodities and services
must cover at least their cost by the year 2000."
2- Reported obstacles facing investors in the fisheries sector were
rejected by the Minister of Fisheries
3- Yemen is to mediate to between Qatar and Egypt in order to normalize
their bilateral relations
Article Summary:
Counterfeit Cigarettes
The National Tobacco and Matches Company (NTMC) announced that poor
quality, counterfeit Kamaran cigarettes have been introduced into the Yemeni
market. The NTCM which produces the original Kamaran indicated that the
forged packets have 'Pure Virginia Tobacco' and 'For Export' written on
them. The aim of this, said an NTMC source, is to destabilize the national
economy and harm the citizens' health. The Yemeni market is flooded with
cheap, poor quality cigarettes imported from unknown sources.
26 SEPTEMBER: Sanaa weekly, 8-1-98.
(Yemeni Armed Forces)
News Review:
1- The President met US Senator Specter who commended Yemen's democratization
process, and stressed the US commitment to develop its ties with Yemen.
2- The Supreme Judicial Council is to discuss the judicial reform plan
during Ramadhan, it aims to modernize the Supreme Court and the judicial
inspection organ.
3- A law to regulate tenant-landlord relations will be issued and several
civil works projects will be implemented during 1998.
4- Foreign Minister Al-Iryani: "Yemen is very serious in resolving
the border problem with Saudi Arabia, and the kidnapping of foreigners
is part of a grand scheme."
5- US Embassy spokesperson denied issuing any new warning by US State
Department to US citizens in Yemen, as published by Al-Thawari weekly.
6- The Syrian prime suspect in the Aden bombings, Nabeel Qoseibati,
entered Yemen as a student at the Science & Technology University.
7- Starting from January, public employees, and army and security personnel
are to receive 10% salary increase.
8- Yemen is to sign security agreements to combat terrorism with Oman,
the UAE, Qatar, and Syria.
9- The Canadian Calgary oil company signed a PSA to drill for oil in
Block 43 in Hadhramaut.
AL-HAQQ: Aden weekly, 4-1-98.
(Independent)
Main Headlines:
1- 16 cars were sold through a 'show' public auctions at very low prices
in Aden
2- Tribal sheikh gives refuge to a murderer in Taiz, and fails to hand
him over to the police
3- Teachers in Ibb went on strike in protest over delay in their salary
payments
4- Engineering cooperation agreement is signed by the Ahqaf University
in Hadhramaut and the Iraq
Article Summary:
Three Appointments in a Month
A new director of irrigation was appointed with the approval of the
People's General Congress (PGC), the governor of Abyan, the director of
Ahwar, and the Irrigation Department there. A few days later, another person
was appointed for the post with the approval of all the above organs, except
the PGC.
The PGC contacted the governor who rescinded the second appointment
and re-instated the first director.
Work at the Directorate of Irrigation in Ahwar is now chaotic. The
director of Ahwar wants the second appointee, while, the PGC wants the
first one.
