President Saleh lectures on unity, urges opposition to engage in dialogue

SANA'A, March 13 (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh has paid =
an inspection visit to the Higher
Military Academy, including the Command and Staff College, Higher War =
College, National Defence College and the Strategic Studies Centre.
After he was briefed on the study programme at the Academy, President =
Saleh delivered a lecture before the Higher Military Academy students in =
the presence of the faculty
members in which he addressed many issues and developments on the =
national arena.
Saleh said that this is the era of information, modernization and =
development at the cultural, political, social and military levels.
"Several classes have graduated from the faculties of this academy and =
their performance was excellent within the military institutions in =
various departments whether ground,
naval, or aerial. They had a distinct and significant role in serving =
the goals of development and modernization of the armed and security =
forces", He added.
Saleh also urged the deans and professors of academic schools to =
dedicate the student's scientific researches for scientific evaluation =
of the performance of the military
institution, including its ground, naval, and aerial departments.
He affirmed that the goal behind establishing these academies was to =
link the aspects of the researches conducted in the higher military =
education to the evaluation of the
performance of the military and security institution to ensure that the =
upsides are reinforced and the downsides are avoided.
The President pointed out that the graduates from the faculties of the =
military academy are assigned to the different departments and divisions =
of the military institution
on its ground, naval, and aerial levels.
He added that the military is considered a major national institution =
that the great Yemeni people pin their hopes, present and future on in =
order to achieve development,
progress and prosperity in all aspects, for everyone is aware that =
without the national military institution, there would be no complete =
freedom or development to reach the
desired goals.
The President affirmed that the complete sustainable development and =
achieving the desired cultural revival is linked to the existence of a =
strong military and security
institution, which sustains the foundations of security and stability, =
protects the achievements and gains of the nation and defies all kinds =
and forms of malicious and despicable
conspiracies.
He noted that the military and security institution was honoured to =
courageously confront the conspiracy that had been targeting our people =
and seeking to hamper the path
of the people's development and prosperity since the dawn of the blessed =
September and October revolutions.
"The apostasy sedition and the attempt to secede in the summer of 1994 =
as well as the sabotage and rebellion sedition in Saada of those =
outlaws, who deviated from the legitimacy
and took up their arms against the state in an attempt to reinstate the =
clerical Imamate, have all been shattered on the rock of awareness of =
the students of this honourable
and heroic military institution", the president added.
He continued by saying: "We have sacrificed convoys of martyrs from our =
finest officers, and soldiers, who, out of their love and loyalty to our =
dear homeland, quenched
the thirst of the homeland with their blood so that its people would =
live in security, stability and reassurance. They defended the =
homeland's gains and its holy constants
represented by the revolution, republic, and unity." President Saleh =
said that the current state of the country along with the people's =
achievements and victories during
the blessed revolution and union eras, were realized thanks to the =
sacrifices of this military institution's heroes and their =
September-October consciousness.
"This great institution, along with all the honourable sons of the =
nation, has thwarted the plots of the country's enemies. It also =
suppressed the sedition and silenced
the malicious tongues, which were aiming at fuelling sedition in Saada =
and all the parties that tried to incite the authorities to wage a war =
in Saada in order to rid them
of their rivals there. At the same time these parties were inciting =
outlaws in Saada to take up arms against the state in an attempt to =
settle scores with the government".
The President revealed that these parties tried to settle their =
accounts with their rivals, who were barricaded in Saada, pushing them =
towards being eliminated by the armed
security forces.
''These parties were pushing these elements to act against the law, =
order and legitimacy and clash with the political regime. This plot is =
now thwarted and has completely
failed. The military operations have also been halted'', Saleh added.
He expressed his sadness for the way the opposition parties under the =
banner of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) were dealing with the national =
issues, the sedition and the
plots targeting the country, its security, stability and principles.
''These parties under the banner of the JMP and which claim that they =
are political forces are unfortunately politicized and not political. We =
are failing to see the purpose
of their behavior'', he said.
''As the country's president in charge of all the political forces, I =
must say that unfortunately, we do not know what they want. They fuel =
fires wherever they see them,
whether in Saada or in some southern or eastern districts'', the =
president explained.
He further said that these parties were unfortunately identified with =
the secessionists and protest against the regime when these =
secessionists block roads, kill people
and loot shops in some southern and eastern districts.
''They wonder where the regime and the law are, but when the regime and =
the law step forward to stop those committing these crimes and acts of =
sabotage, they start condemning
the regime. They also regard the parties concerned who exercise their =
constitutional and legal tasks to stop the criminals and maintain the =
security and stability, as carrying
out repressive campaigns. This is extremely surprising... This is =
extremely surprising'', Saleh added.
The president addressed these parties asking: "What do you want? You =
are against the war in Saada and demand that it be stopped, but at the =
same time you fuel its fire and
say that the government does not apply the law and the constitution on =
the outlaws in some southern and eastern districts. When the government =
fulfils its duties, you consider
its measures as 'actions oppressing freedom and call for demonstrations =
and rallies to support these outlaws, noting that you have been in an =
opposition state ever since
the JMP entity was formed".
Saleh pointed out that Yemen is a country based on democracy and =
political diversity.
"Reach power through the ballot box. This is made available to all =
through the voting process as long as we believe in democracy and the =
peaceful rotation of power. Do not
seek power by blocking roads, sabotaging, killing the sacred souls, =
demolishing, protesting, and obstructing the process of development", he =
added.
He also stressed that the authority is not exclusive to anyone, it =
belongs to all.
''Join the power through the official channels, through the ballot =
boxes whether for the local, parliamentary, and presidential authorities =
or the civil society organizations.
We have to resort to the ballot boxes and respect the country's laws, =
regulations and constitution'', the President added.
Saleh addressed the military academy members saying: "Indeed, we have =
put an end to the war, which had been raging for seven months.
During this war, we sacrificed our best officers and soldiers in defence =
of our republican regime and the country's unity, which we declared on =
22 May. We will protect this
great gain in the same manner we protect everything we hold dearest to =
our hearts. This is an achievement that the people of Yemen take pride =
in. It is an Arab nationalist
achievement as much as it is Yemeni".
''The malevolent warped forces longing for power want to destroy this =
temple. But they, as well as others, are more likely to get to the moon =
before they can even lay a
hand on this temple. Just like our people stood against the remnants of =
the imamate and defeated them in the mountains of Al-Nahdayn, Ayban and =
Zifar, and just like they
defeated the forces opposed to the October Revolution in the Shabwah and =
in Hadramout, they are also able to valiantly fight every conspirator =
that might surface now or in
the future''.
He also stressed that the military institution was established in order =
to protect the country, its lands, seas and air, adding that it will not =
be a force of suppression
and that the political life will not be militarized.
''We believe in democracy and in the freedom and diversity of opinions =
without offending anyone, harming the country and its interests or =
pledging loyalty to foreign sides'',
President Saleh also said.
Addressing those who want to destroy the temple, the President said: =
"You cannot lie to this country or feign crying for its sake while at =
the same time you seek to destroy
it. You watch booby-trapped cars and explosive belts being detonated, =
yet we never hear you condemning them. On the contrary, we see you =
smiling and relaxed in front of all
these victims -the victims of the bombings in Shibam, Sayun, Marib and =
Sana'a -instead of condemning these terrorist Al-Qaeda acting against =
the law and order".
"You were smiling when Al-Qabati was killed in his store in Lahj =
province. You considered such act to be a good deed because it was =
carried out against the law and order
and you stated that the regime is starting to fall apart and perish... =
You believe that by doing so you will ascend to power, but this will not =
happen unless you resort to
the ballot boxes, freedom and democracy".
''The General People Congress (GPC) had concluded the February =
agreement with you. By doing so, the GPC made a mistake. The elections =
should have been held on time, but
you created a crisis and dragged the GPC into signing the February =
agreement. That was a huge mistake, and the elections should have been =
held regardless of whether you participate
in it or not. You are a free people, and your boycott of the elections =
falls within the realm of democracy''.
He went on to say: "who says that the GPC wants to run alone in the =
elections and compete with itself is a liar. We are acting according to =
the constitution and the law.
The GPC made a mistake that will not be repeated. The GPC should not =
commit the same mistake. Let this period stated in the February =
agreement elapse, and let the elections
be held on time. We welcome both, those who want to participate as it is =
their right to participate, and those who do not wish to participate as =
it is also their right".
''The country is larger than the political forces. It is no longer like =
it was prior to 22 May. Now, this country is glorious. We call on these =
political forces to return
to their sense and reason, stay away from boastfulness, arrogance, and =
chaos, and refrain from destroying the temple, for they will be the =
first victims. This temple shall
not be destroyed. But, God forbids, in the event of chaos, these forces =
will be primarily held responsible, and our people are well aware of =
their identity", he highlighted.
"We call on them to return to reason, and have recourse to logic and =
rationality. We urge them to refrain from holding a dialogue with =
themselves, but rather to engage in
a dialogue with the various forces of the political spectrum. Sabotage =
is easy, using the mattock of destruction and sabotage is very simple. =
But, building one stone at a
time is rather difficult. For instance, anyone can destroy a large =
building in a matter of hours, but to build it takes not months but =
years. Similarly, it took us years
and long decades to build the country", President Saleh added.
''If the so-called Southern Movement and the other forces have =
particular demands, they should present them through the political =
channels, the Parliament, the Shura Council,
the local councils, local conferences and local authority councils. We =
tell them to come forward and engage in a dialogue with their brothers =
in power, and we will speak
to them. We are extending our hand for a dialogue away from violence, =
road blocking, killing the sacred lives and raising the separatist =
flag''.
"I am sure that the separatist flags will be burned in the coming days =
and weeks, for we have one flag that we have agreed upon at our own free =
will. Any other political
demands are welcomed. Let us engage in dialogue. Now, we will form =
committees made up of the people of the provinces to engage in dialogue =
with these forces, if they agree
to dialogue. The forces present in the parliament, Shura Council, and =
local council negotiate with those who have genuine claims, which we =
will warmly welcome and work to
address, but we refuse to create a culture of hatred, racism and =
regionalism." The President touched upon the extent of the development =
changes that the southern and eastern
provinces witnessed in light of the unity. He pointed out that everyone =
is aware of Hadramout's condition before the unity, and what has become =
of it now.
He pointed out that at the time Saada was the flagship province until =
it was subjected to destruction and devastation by the outlaw elements =
of insurgency and sedition.
Saleh also urged the deans and professors of the academic colleges to =
provide students with accurate and correct information for developing =
their academic research, and
urge them to be careful in choosing their reliable scholastic and =
historical sources.
''When we look for sources on events in Yemen from the time of the =
Revolution 48 years ago until today, we will find that they are filled =
with wonders, for we find ramblings,
liars, deceitful people and sycophants. In these sources you will also =
find those who claim to have contributed to and fought in the stages of =
defending the Revolution at
a time when they had left at the beginning of the Revolution to ride =
motorcycles in Bab Shua'b or in Bab al-Yaman, and when they acquired =
spare parts, they registered themselves
as strugglers. Yet, there are many officers, soldiers and heroes who =
were fighting in battles and nobody knows anything about them. There =
were strugglers who did not like
to talk about their roles and preferred self-denial'', he made it clear.
''There are people that remain unknown, while there are others who =
profited, gained, and stepped on the skulls of martyrs. They become =
well-known, traded and made deals
at the expense of the lives of the martyrs'' At the end of his lecture, =
President Saleh wished success to the members of the academy, urging =
them to be well-disciplined and
attain an excellent education because they will become leaders in the =
armed forces and hoping they reflect in their work what they obtain from =
the military information and
education in order to serve the goals of development and modernization =
of the military and security institution.