Yemen, IFES hold talks over upcoming parliamentary elections

WASHINGTON, Nov. 07 (Saba) – Chairman of the Supreme Commission for
Elections and Referendum Khalid al-Sharif has discussed with
officials at the International Foundation for Election Systems IFES
issues linked to the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Yemen will hold its fifth parliamentary elections, since the
reunification of the north and south in 1990, early next year.

At the meeting which took place in the US capital, Washington and
that gathered al-Sharif with officials concerned with implementation
of programs in the Middle East and North Africa, al-Sharif discussed
means to boost cooperation between the SCER and the IFES.

Al-Sharif said Yemen hopes that the IFES actively supports the SCER,
within the partnership framework, through setting up a regional
training center for the SCER officials and those who are interested
in election process as well as supporting the information center at
the commission with necessary equipment.

Al-Sharif hoped that the IFES backs the SCER orientations to raise
awareness about elections and the democratic concepts, in addition
to support to steps taken to present democratic concepts in school
curricula, women's awareness about their election rights and
improving the election legislations and bringing in regulations to
enhance the electoral system in the country.

The IFES expressed readiness to support and provide consultative
assistance to the SCER to achieve stated goals.

Al-Sharif late last month headed to Washington to take part in the
US presidential elections observations. His participation came in
response to the invitation of the IFES.

On his visit, he will familiarize himself with the US electoral
system particularly from technical, legal and awareness aspects in
an effort to learn from the US election experiences to develop
mechanisms of the electoral activities in Yemen.
FR