Yemen, 2004

It gives

me pleasure to begin my remarks by congratulating

Mr. Ping on the vote of confidence represented by his

election as President of the current session of the

Assembly. Given his wisdom and organizational skills,

I am confident that he will be able to lead our

deliberations successfully. Thus, his positive input will

further enhance the stature and effectiveness of the

United Nations at a time of profound and

unprecedented transformation on the world scene.

I wish also to commend the efforts and wisdom of

his predecessor for his remarkable stewardship.

Furthermore, Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General,

deserves our gratitude for his persistent efforts to live

up to the demands of his office in the face of complex

and daunting challenges and surprises.

Undoubtedly, the events of the past two years —

specifically from the period prior to and after the

occupation of Iraq — have shown clearly that, in

today’s world, unilateralism in determining

international action inevitably leads to the proliferation

of hotbeds of tension, in addition to jeopardizing

international peace and security. At the same time,

those events have further demonstrated the relevance

of multilateralism in global decision-making through

international institutions, especially this world body.

Given that the United Nations represents a

superior form of multilateralism, because it brings

together Member States to address common concerns

over the maintenance of collective security and to face

universal challenges, it is only logical that we all

should join together to protect it against

marginalization and to safeguard and strengthen its

role. Thus, we should not allow the will of one Power,

or of a certain group of Powers, to direct the actions of

the United Nations system or permit it to be used to

advance their agenda without regard for the wishes and

interests of the rest of the membership.

A case in point, in our view, is the need to

reconsider the decision-making process in the Security

Council, its composition and membership. The realities

of our contemporary world and the imperatives of

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global security, which is indivisible, must be fully

taken into consideration in any review exercise. No

single State or group of States can alone guarantee

global security or assume the responsibility of that

undertaking without active participation by other

States. In addition, decisions that are not in line with

international law, the Charter of the United Nations or

the view of the majority of the membership should be

vehemently opposed.

As this session coincides with the third

anniversary of the 11 September tragedy, once again

the Republic of Yemen reaffirms its commitment to

fight extremism and terrorism within the framework

established and led by the United Nations. Yemen, for

its part, has made great progress in combating

terrorism and terrorists. The most recent achievement

involved defeating a group that had rebelled against the

Constitution and the rule of law in the Sa’dah region in

Yemen. Those rebels had resorted to terrorism in order

to achieve their goals. Their terrorist acts harmed

innocent civilians and disrupted security and stability

in the area.

The Government of Yemen, while fully

responsible for the safety and security of its citizens

and the homeland, remains faithful to its international

commitment to combat terrorism. Our conviction is

that terrorism has no specific identity or particular

religion. The struggle for national liberation or to end

foreign occupation is a legitimate right under the

Charter of the United Nations, international law and

the basic principles of justice and human rights. Such a

struggle can therefore not be treated as terrorism. In

addition, Yemen’s experience in combating terrorism

has taught us that in order effectively to battle

terrorism, all possible resources must be deployed,

including its root causes, dialogue, the promotion of

development and justice, in addition to good security

and intelligence work.

Yemen is a strong believer in the United Nations.

However, we believe that, despite all the efforts made

by the dynamic Secretariat of this great institution, the

gaps between rich and poor countries are widening.

That is partly due to current economic policies that

strengthen the dominance of wealthy nations over poor

countries. Today more than ever we need to examine in

earnest the imbalances in international economic

relations.

The first step we expect in this regard is the

fulfilment by wealthier nations of the pledges and

undertakings announced in their initiatives for

achieving economic balance between the rich and the

poor. Failure to do so, as I presume all of us recognize,

would deepen the sense of bitterness felt by the poor

countries. It might also breed extremism and violence

to which no country would be immune.

In that context, the Government of the Republic

of Yemen believes that the recognition by the leaders

of the Group of Eight industrial nations that the

consolidation of peace in the Middle East and the

promotion of economic growth and political

development through a process of overall development

in all countries of the region — as outlined in the G-8

declaration adopted at their most recent Summit in Sea

Island, Georgia, United States — represents a very

significant statement and a positive strategic challenge

of interest to us and to the international community in

general.

It is indeed a challenge, because this long-

overdue vision seeks to correct a chronic anomaly. It is

also a challenge because of its positive implications

and the shift in focus it can bring in favour of global

stability and international peace and security once that

abstract concept is translated into concrete and

meaningful steps on the ground. That will require

genuine partnerships and the abandoning of policies of

coercion.

Proceeding from these convictions, Yemen

welcomed that initiative and agreed to participate in

the G-8 Sea Island Summit for two reasons: first,

because that vision is in line with our national plan for

reform, and, secondly, because we welcome any

partnership between Arab States, the European Union,

the United States of America and the world at large

that enhances our development and stability and

contributes to the fight against terrorism.

The commitment of my Government to build a

better future for the people of Yemen and the people of

our region has prompted us to institute numerous

economic and political reforms, broaden popular

involvement in governance, and strengthen our

partnership with other countries and entities.

This was highlighted in the Sana’a Declaration on

Democracy, Human Rights and the Role of the

International Criminal Court, adopted earlier this year

at the Sana’a Intergovernmental Regional Conference.

39

A number of other countries, represented by their

Governments, Parliaments and civil society, regional

and international organizations, took part in that forum.

The Forum was organized in response to reform

initiatives that came from the Governments and

peoples of the region. It stressed that good democratic

governance and respect for human rights require full

mobilization of the energies and potential of civil

society. They also require interaction among all

stakeholders, with a sense of responsibility and

partnership with Governments, and support from

outside the region, in order to use overall development

as a vehicle towards stability, progress and movement

on the road towards democracy and overall human

development.

No one can ignore the great achievements made

by our Organization in promoting peace, security and

welfare over the course of its rich history. But one

should, by the same token, admit that it has failed to

resolve numerous conflicts that have endangered, and

continue to endanger, the security and stability of many

nations and peoples. Foremost among these dangers is

the Arab-Israeli conflict. Certainly, the United Nations

has failed to put an end to ongoing Israeli aggression

against the Palestinian people and to Israel’s repeated

threats against Arab countries. Also, there are many

trouble spots and areas of conflict across the globe that

the United Nations must address effectively if we want

international peace and security to prevail.

The position of the Republic of Yemen regarding

the question of Palestine is abundantly clear. It is based

on the principles laid out by the Quartet in the road

map, and on those contained in the Arab Peace

Initiative. This Initiative calls for the establishment of

a State of Palestine with full sovereignty over its

territory and with Jerusalem as its capital; Israel’s

withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied since

4 June 1967; and the return of refugees to their homes.

All along, Yemen has maintained that peace in

the Middle East will elude us as long as Israel is

allowed to manoeuvre and circumvent United Nations

resolutions. We also believe that Israel will not accept

the aforesaid solutions unless a Security Council

resolution is adopted with a view to imposing a

solution on Israel that includes an enforcement

mechanism. Contrary to our hopes, the entire question

has become even more intractable and difficult to

comprehend, especially given the use of the veto power

against any proposed resolution that would force Israel

to implement United Nations resolutions. This has

encouraged Israel to persist in constructing the

racially-based separation wall, which aggravates the

suffering of the Palestinian people and is taking away

sizeable tracts of their remaining land, in defiance of

global consensus and of the advisory opinion of the

International Court of Justice (ICJ).

We wish to emphasize here that, as recent events

have demonstrated, the wall cannot guarantee security

to Israel. Israel’s genuine security could be achieved if

it were to accept the road map and commit itself to

implementing relevant United Nations resolutions.

We demand that the Security Council ensure the

physical safety of the Palestinian President, Yasser

Arafat, provide protection for the Palestinian people

against Israeli state-sponsored terrorism, and show

respect for the wishes and the will of the Palestinian

people.

In addition, Israeli withdrawal from the occupied

Syrian and Lebanese territories is an integral part of

any Middle East peace initiative. I wish to recall in this

regard that the Arab Peace Initiative represents an Arab

consensus for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli

conflict.

Furthermore, my Government considers

inadmissible the threats that the Israeli military

machine fires against sister Syria and against Iran from

time to time. This represents irresponsible provocation

that exacerbates the already tense situation in the

region. The timing of these threats further fuels

violence and frustrates peace endeavours aimed at

finding a just and negotiated settlement of the

Arab-Israeli conflict. They also represent an attempt by

the Israeli Government to distract attention from its

failure to ensure security for its citizens. The time has

come for Israel to recognize that its stability and

acceptance by countries of the region will remain

unfulfilled unless it implements the road map and

relevant United Nations resolutions, and withdraws

from the occupied Arab territories in Palestine, the

Golan and the Shab’a farms.

In the same context, I wish to affirm my country’s

support for United Nations efforts regarding the

convening of a disarmament conference which aims,

inter alia, at the establishment of the Middle East

region as a zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

To this end, Israel must accede to the Nuclear

Non-Proliferation Treaty.

40

The current violence in Iraq, and the violation of

human rights and bloodshed of our Iraqi brothers is an

inevitable outcome of an invasion. Thus, it is

incumbent upon the United Nations to fulfil its role, as

set forth in relevant resolutions, regarding the need to

provide support to Iraq with a view to restoring peace

and stability throughout the country. The interim Iraqi

Government should be empowered to exercise full

sovereignty in order to lead Iraq towards holding

democratic elections and forming a constitutional

Government that represents the will of the Iraqi people,

restores law and order and puts an end to the

occupation of the country. The tragic situation

unfolding today in Iraq, in the wake of the downfall of

Saddam Hussein’s regime, has resulted in terrorism,

violations and chaos, which all of us can see. That

situation may take Iraq down a slippery slope of

sectarian violence and conflict which, in turn, will

threaten the unity and future of Iraq.

Yemen believes that all of us should assist and

support the interim Government in Iraq and the

national and legislative councils to overcome the

current critical transitional stage in accordance with

Security Council resolution 1546 (2004), with a view

toward safeguarding the sovereignty, independence and

territorial integrity of Iraq. Also, we must ensure that

the forthcoming period leading to parliamentary

elections and the formation of a national Government

will reflect the will of the Iraqi people without external

interference. All effort should be made to develop and

define political solutions for the complex situation, and

to provide to the interim Government all it may need in

order to achieve a successful outcome. Priority should

be given to enabling the Iraqi Government to start the

process of national reconciliation, ensuring the

participation of all factions and political groups in

defining the future of Iraq and closing the annals of the

past. We also call for an end to violence against

civilians, as well as excessive military reactions by the

occupation forces, which victimize innocent civilians

and lead to further destruction, pushing moderates

towards extremism.

In view of Yemen’s sense of fraternal

responsibility towards Iraq, we submitted to the last

Arab summit in Tunis, an initiative conceived on the

basis of a set of firm principles set forth in United

Nations resolutions. In essence, the initiative contained

guiding principles for assisting the brotherly people of

Iraq to overcome their current crisis. It also called for

setting timelines to link efforts to restore security and

stability with ending of the occupation. In the

meantime, Yemen supports any Arab or international

endeavour that might help Iraq move safely to achieve

peace, stability and national unity.

My country believes that national reconciliation

based on dialogue and national unity is a viable path

toward settling the long-running dispute and conflict in

Somalia. Therefore, we congratulate the Somali leaders

on the progress they have so far achieved within the

framework of the reconciliation process. At the same

time, we call upon all warring factions in Somalia to

build on that success and to put the highest national

interests of Somalia ahead of their own agendas.

Yemen, which has played a leading role in promoting

national reconciliation in Somalia, calls upon the

United Nations and the international community to

assume fully and effectively their responsibilities in

order to bring about peace and security in Somalia.

The Yemeni Government appreciates the current

efforts being made to assist the national reconciliation

talks in Somalia to reach a successful outcome, that is

the formation of a consultative council, election of a

President for the country, and formation of an interim

Government that will lead Somalia towards drafting a

new constitution and setting up a democratic system of

government. Yemen, of course, will align itself with

the good offices of the Governments of Djibouti,

Ethiopia and Kenya, and supported by the European

Union and the United States, to promote reconciliation.

The Republic of Yemen has been closely

following the humanitarian situation in the Darfur

province of sisterly Sudan. I wish to underline here the

decisions adopted by the Council of Arab Foreign

Ministers, which met at the headquarters of the Arab

League early last August. That meeting was also

attended by the head of the African Union Commission

and the Foreign Minister of Nigeria representing

President Obasanjo of Nigeria — the current Chairman

of the African Union. We wish also to reaffirm the

decisions adopted in this regard by the Council of Arab

Foreign Ministers in its regular session on 14 and

15 September. Those decisions reflected the joint

Arab-African position regarding the situation in Darfur.

They affirmed the need to address the matter within the

African Arab framework. They also rejected all

attempts to create a rift in Arab-African relations and

stressed that there was no hard evidence of genocide.

Furthermore, the meeting underlined the responsibility

41

of the Government of the Sudan for maintaining

security and stability, providing protection for its

citizens and disarming all militias in the region. The

success of the Sudanese Government in achieving

those goals will depend on the degree of international

support and humanitarian relief assistance provided to

it. All external parties must also refrain from

interfering in the internal affairs of the Sudan.

The Government of the Sudan must assume its

responsibility for deploying its forces so as to ensure

security, provide protection for all of its citizens and

confront all of the armed groups responsible for the

crisis. In the meantime, all the logistical support

needed by the Government of Sudan should be

provided by the African Union and Arab States with a

view to achieving those objectives.

The Sudan’s response to relevant Security

Council resolutions, including the steps it has begun to

take, clearly demonstrate its genuine commitment to its

undertakings. Furthermore, we call on the United

Nations, especially the Security Council, to address the

issue on the basis of an accurate assessment of the

situation in Darfur which obviously has begun to

improve. We must avoid favouring one side at the

expense of the other. We should also shift our focus to

address the humanitarian situation without regard to

political considerations or motives. All of the parties to

the Darfur dispute, including the Government of the

Sudan, should be urged to participate constructively

and unconditionally in peace talks, with a view to

achieving a just solution to the crisis. Any attempt to

use blackmail or to exploit events to the advantage of

the rebel groups must be rejected. Any party that

violates its commitments, as verified by a neutral

security monitoring mechanism, should be held

accountable.

The Government of the Republic of Yemen

stresses that threatening or imposing a unilateral

boycott or economic sanctions, as practised against

some Member States, would constitute an explicit

violation of the principles of international law —

regardless of the fact that such practices have failed on

the ground in more than one case. Indeed, sanctions

and boycotts aggravate the suffering of innocent

civilians and lead to the escalation of hostilities.

My country supports the call by the United

Nations to end unilateral measures, and it affirms the

need to promote a culture of dialogue and

understanding, even when dealing with controversial

issues. That should, indeed, be the rational and

civilized approach that all of us should pursue in

resolving our disputes and mending our relationships.

Finally, my delegation wishes the General

Assembly every success as it endeavours to fulfil its

mandate during this session, with a view to reinforcing

our common action to promote peace, security and

welfare for all. It is our hope that the ongoing reform

of the United Nations will achieve the long-awaited

objectives, including equitable representation in the

Security Council. That would enhance the Council’s

effectiveness and credibility and enable it to adapt

better to the constantly changing landscape of

international relations.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm that the

Republic of Yemen will support any efforts aimed at

strengthening the role of the United Nations and

enhancing its credibility, safeguarding the sovereignty

and will of its Member States and pooling our energies

to create a better future for humankind.