Experts have made ominous projections regarding the future of Sanaa, a city whose number of inhabitants now approaches 1.3 million. According to a limited circulation report released last week, the city sinks some 4 centimeters every 10 years because of the depletion of the underground acquifers. 

That is not all. The prospects of achieving a good life in Sanaa are shrinking. 
First, the city suffers from what experts call "a closed echo-system," due to a wall of mountains surrounding it. Second, an altitude of over 7,000 feet above sea-level means that there is very little oxygen in the air. First time visitors, particularly those with heart conditions or asthma, have to gasp for air. 

Added to these problems are the needs of a rapidly growing population. The average annual growth rate has been at about 8% for the last 20 years. 
There is a rising level of gas emissions from the 150,000 vehicles madly roaming the streets. 
Also, there is the high level of pollution generated by activities such as quarrying and industrial plants. 
Last but not least, there is the problem of a city unable to handle the garbage and sewer it generates. 
The problems of Sanaa do not end there. Among the other conclusions of the report is that the city is running out of water, and its management system (or lack of it) is on the verge of chaos. 

Sanaa is an ancient city rushing into the modern age. It carries with it the trappings of the past, and one can often see shepherds herding their goats and sheep in the middle of the city's streets. 

 

There is a lot of fighting going on these days between Yemeni political parties, particularly in regards to the upcoming presidential race. 
The Yemeni Congregation for Reform (known as Islah) is upset with the ruling party, the People's General Congress, because it is unable or unwilling to correct the list of eligible voters for the elections. Yet, it maintains that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is its candidate for president. There is a contradiction here. If the Islah is all for President Saleh, why is it at odds with the PGC and its candidate - President Saleh? 

Then there are the other opposition political parties. The Yemen Socialist Party has been unable to even hold its party convention for the last 15 years. Of course, the party has problems, but it is up to the rank and file of the party to find solutions to the problems. The perennial leaders of the party have no mandate to decide on behalf of the party forever. 
None of the other smaller parties are in a position to field presidential candidates. As a result, President Saleh finds himself running without a real challenger. The joke around town is that he will have to hire one. 

This situation is not an accident. The country has been manipulated by the people in power to reach this predicament. 
The elections, scheduled for October 1999, are expected to cost the nation around YR 8 billion. Many people are troubled by the fact that a poor country will spend so much money to arrive at a foregone conclusion. Several members of parliament and many public figures now suggest using the 'tazkiyah' system. This means all sides will agree to nominate President Saleh, and thus side-step the elections. 
Others say that holding elections is building a tradition. They are important for the long-term, even if they have no meaning in the short run. 

 

H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulghani, Chairman of the Consultative Council (CC), has accepted an invitation from the Honorable Gildas Molgat, Speaker of the Canadian Senate. A 4-person delegation from the Consultative Council is now scheduled to arrive in Ottawa on June 8th, on a 4-day official visit. 
"We are working to promote stronger cooperation between our two countries," explained Mr. Abdulghani. 

The Yemeni delegation seeks to meet Ms. Huguette Labelle, Chairman of Canadian International Development Agency, to reach an agreement to qualify for bilateral assistance. At the moment, Yemen receives assistance through CIDA's multilateral program. Although such program severely limits the availability of funds, Yemen will already be receiving $ 1 million Canadian from Canada in 1999. 

Mr. Abdulghani also hopes to meet with the Canadian Foreign Minister, the Honorable Lloyd Axeworthy. "We hope the Canadian Government will see the need to open an embassy in Sanaa," he said. 
Canada has also offered to sign 2 agreements - one on investment guarantees and the other on avoiding double taxation, in order to promote joint ventures and investments.