SANA’A – Varied opinions of Southern Movement leaders toward the upcoming National Dialogue has led Hirak (Southern Movement) to back out of the talks, according to Abdo Al-Matari, a southern movement leader in Al-Dhale governorate.

Al-Matari said what matters is the regime and the opposition in Sana’a, not the dialogue.  

Meanwhile, in Aden, Southern Movement leader Khalid Bamdhaf said, “All official constitutional institutions should recognize the southern issue prior to embarking on the National Dialogue.”

Bamdhaf said President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the head of parliament don’t acknowledge the southern issue’s importance. He also said the dialogue is the only civilized way to solve problems; however, good preparation should come first.

“The basis of dialogue is the Gulf Initiative. It does not have the southern issue on its list of priorities,” Amen Saleh, another Southern Movement leader, said.

“So what will we negotiate?” he asked.

Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on the international community to look at the southern issue and to give the southerners a fair chance.  

On Monday, Rakia Humaidan, liaison committee member in the reconciliation government, said several southern civil organizations exhibited willingness to take part in the National Dialogue.  

Informed sources in the outreach committee said parties who didn’t participate in the Gulf Initiative will join the dialogue. The Al-Rashad Party, which represents the recently established Salifists, Justice and Building Organization, and Al-Uman party, a Houthi-affiliated party, are among the parties expected to take part in the dialogue.

Jafar Basaleh, a member of the outreach committee, said the willingness of political parties to participate came to light at a meeting attended by the parties’ representatives Tuesday morning in Sana’a.

Abdulkareem Al-Eryani, head of the outreach committee, said there are no pre-conditions to the national dialogue, adding that specific personal suggestions will be unacceptable.

In a press conference on Saturday, Al-Eryani said there were no specific conditions presented by Houthis when the outreach committee contacted them.