Yemen, 2005

The

Government of the Republic of Yemen believes that the

principles of the Charter of the United Nations form

the cornerstone of its ability to tackle all problems at

the national, regional and international levels. Ever

since it was created, it has strived to create a climate of

security and stability in the region by demarcating

Yemen’s land and sea borders by peaceful means and

by its devotion to the principle of well-balanced

diplomacy and dialogue in the settlement of its

disputes with others. It has fostered a partnership with

neighbouring countries of the Gulf Cooperation

Council and the San’a community for development, as

well as its active contribution to the League of Arab

States.

Yemen has played a pioneering role with regard

to political reform and the multiparty system and has

enabled women to participate actively in the political,

economic and social life of the country. Yemen is in the

process of preparing for direct presidential elections, as

well as elections for local administrative councils, in

order to enhance democracy and promote people’s

participation in the administration of the country and in

achieving decentralization by next September.

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Yemen would like to thank the international

development agency for its support in this connection,

as well as those States that have supported our

democracy. We hope, however, that we will be

receiving more financial and technical support for the

high electoral commission to enable it to efficiently

carry out its work.

In light of terrorist acts in a number of countries

of the region and throughout the world, the Republic of

Yemen wishes to reaffirm its clear-cut position that

there is a need to have joint responsibility in our

struggle against terrorism. We will cooperate with all

States and international organizations to deal with this

danger and to develop ways for exchanging

information, particularly with regard to the sources of

financing for terrorism and the prosecution of the

guilty parties. We firmly believe that we should

convene an international conference on terrorism to

arrive at a clear definition of the phenomenon, which

would draw a distinction between terrorism and the

right of peoples to self-determination and to resist

foreign occupation of their territories. We also

condemn all forms of terrorism against innocent and

defenceless civilians.

The expansion of poverty and diseases and the

lack of education and health services for millions of

people in Africa and Asia constitutes a time bomb

threatening international peace and security.

Establishing peace and stability and putting an end to

extremism and terrorism are goals that cannot be

achieved unless rich States revise their economic and

political policies and provide support to achieve peace

and development. That would enable millions of

people to recover their dignity and humanity. In this

context, the Republic of Yemen wishes to reaffirm its

support for the proposal made by the King of Saudi

Arabia, Guardian of the Two Holy Sites, for the

creation of an international centre to fight terrorism.

The Republic of Yemen is of the view that the

withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza

Strip is a first step on a long path. We reaffirm our

belief that this withdrawal is but a part of the road map

that should be considered as an integrated

comprehensive plan that must be implemented as a

whole and not dealt with selectively.

In this context, the international community

should not be deceived into believing that Israel has

made enormous sacrifices by withdrawing from

territories occupied by force, or have any sympathy for

Israeli settlers who were evacuated, as these

settlements were built on land the settlers did not own.

Israel should end its occupation of the West Bank,

remove all settlements there, and demolish the

separation wall in accordance with the advisory

opinion of the International Court of Justice.

The peace process is an indivisible whole. Real

peace can only be achieved when all Arab rights have

been recovered — first and foremost, the withdrawal of

Israel from all occupied territories in Palestine, the

Golan Heights and southern Lebanon to the borders of

4 June 1967, the creation of an independent Palestinian

State on Palestinian national soil with its capital in

Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the just resolution of the

refugee problem in accordance with General Assembly

resolution 194 (III) of 1949. We ask the international

Organization and the Quartet not to recognize nor

accept any Israeli guarantees or promises that are

designed to violate the legitimate rights of the

Palestinian people and its sovereignty and not to

reward Israeli occupation that seeks to impose faits

accomplis solutions.

We must carefully consider the situation in Iraq

and see what we can do to assist the Iraqi people to

achieve its aspirations. There is no doubt that respect

for the unity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq,

non-interference in its internal affairs, respect for the

will of the people of Iraq and their choices in

determining their future, are important tasks that this

international Organization, as well as the international

community, must help and support. The same is true

with regard to the need for all sectors of Iraqi society

to take part in the political process on the basis of

conciliation and national harmony, without

jeopardizing Iraq’s Arab identity, civilization and

heritage. In this context, the people and Government of

Yemen welcome the positive and important role taken

by the United Nations in support of the constructive

political process. It is important for this international

Organization to play a central role in order to help

complete this process and that of the reconstruction of

Iraq.

In the same vein, I reiterate the need to urgently

implement Security Council resolution 1546 (2004) in

order to allow Iraq to recover its full sovereignty and

to put an end to the foreign military presence in that

country.

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The Republic of Yemen is following with

satisfaction the positive events that are occurring in

Sudan, which we see as the beginning of a new stage of

national reconciliation, peace and stability in the entire

country and as the end of the longest conflict in Africa.

We appreciate the role played by neighbouring Arab

and African States, as well as that by Secretary-

General Kofi Annan, for their help in achieving

agreement to ensure Sudan’s territorial integrity, unity,

stability and security. We hope that the international

Organization will redouble its efforts to make sure that

international financial institutions, funds and States

support the process of peace, development and

reconstruction throughout Sudan, particularly in the

regions that have been ravaged by war.

We are pleased to see progress achieved in

Somalia. However, we warn of the possibility of

further setbacks in that country. We have no choice but

to call upon the United Nations and the international

community as a whole to provide urgently needed

assistance to the transitional Government in Somalia to

enable the Government to carry out its work,

particularly with regard to ensuring reconstruction and

the rule of law. The participation of United Nations

peacekeeping forces has become more necessary now

than ever before. Any reluctance in providing such

assistance to Somalia will mean that terrorism and the

forces of violence and extremism will prevail with

most serious consequences to that country, to the Arab

world, regionally and internationally.

With regard to my country’s position on

developing national capabilities in the area of the

peaceful use of nuclear energy, we believe that all

member States of the International Atomic Energy

Agency have the right to develop their nuclear

capabilities for peaceful purposes, a position that was

adopted by the Islamic States at the meeting of foreign

ministers of the Organization of the Islamic

Conference, held in Sana’a last June.

We further reaffirm the importance of making the

Middle East a zone free of nuclear weapons and

weapons of mass destruction and that the prohibition of

such weapons should apply to all States of the region,

including Israel.

In conclusion, allow me once more to

congratulate you, Mr. President, and express my best

wishes to the General Assembly, hoping that our

common endeavour will be crowned with success so

that we can achieve peace, security and prosperity for

everyone.