Elections on time will present positive picture of Yemen

SANA'A, Dec. 28 (Saba) -
Deputy Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Hisham Sharaf has said
that holding
the upcoming parliamentary elections on time will create a positive image of Yemen.
In a statement to 26sep.net, Sharaf said the elections on time means that Yemen is
committed to all reforms and implementing development plans.
He played down that the non-participation of the Joint Meeting Parties in the
elections will distort Yemen's democratic image.
Such issues have no effects because we are ready for dialog and going ahead to
reach common denominators with all political forces without specific timetables.
Also, the political dialog should not be tied the legal process of politics or
political, economic and development reforms in the country, he said.
"Dialog in any country takes a long time, maybe years, and in Yemen it should be
so. Holding a responsible dialog is not an easy task, however, the government
should show
commitment and bear sense of responsibility to make it a success." Yemen will go
ahead with implementing reforms and holding the elections on April 27, 2011, and the
boycott
is a democratic right, he said, adding that 15 per cent of the seats in Parliament
are expected to be for women.
Yemen exerts major efforts to empower women and promote their participation, he said.
FR