SAUDI ARABIA: Arab foreign ministers at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh pleased with Yemen's power transfer deal

Record ID: 188869

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Arab foreign ministers at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh pleased with Yemen's power transfer deal
  • Date: 24th November 2011
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2011) (REUTERS) YEMEN DELEGATIONS, OPPOSITION AND GOVERNMENT, ARRIVING AT GCC HEADQUARTERS YEMEN OPPOSITION MEMBERS AT GCC HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI ABD RABBUH AL KADI, MEMBER OF THE YEMEN NATIONAL COUNCIL, OPPOSITION REPRESENTATIVE SAYING: "We believe this agreement has been delayed and it has had a huge impact on the economy. It has led to bloodshed and has left us with many widows and orphans. May God forgives whoever was behind this delay." SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER PRINCE SAUDI AL FAISAL ARRIVING AT GCC HEADQUARTERS GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS ARRIVING GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS IN MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE SAUD AL FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "We hope that signing the agreement will bring an end to the conflict and we hope it helps Yemen to return to its previous state and lets it enjoy security and stability and achieve its aspirations." BAHRAIN AND UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOREIGN MINISTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE SAUD AL FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "We commend what has emerged in Bahrain from the transparency and sincerity in dealing with the events in Bahrain. It has pleased friends and angered enemies. Congratulations to Bahrain with its wise leadership and congratulations to us that we have Bahrain amongst us." GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS APPLAUDING JAMAL BIN OMAR, UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S ENVOY TO YEMEN SPEAKING WITH HIS TEAM MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMAL BIN OMAR, THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S ENVOY TO YEMEN, SAYING: "This is a very good deal and this is a very good day for Yemen and we hope it provides the framework for a reform process during the transition that will lead to general free and fair elections." GCC LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMAL BIN OMAR, THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S ENVOY TO YEMEN, SAYING: "It opens the way for other political forces to join the political process, a process that can be only Yemeni-led, a process for a transition that hopefully will lead to reconciliation and reconstruction of the country." GCC FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABO-BAKER AL KORABE, YEMENI FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "As they say, you reap what you sow. Today we reap the fruit of the efforts and the will to reach a solution to the crisis in Yemen. It was a Yemeni achievement with the help of GCC." SAUDI ROYAL GUARD OFFICER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABO-BAKER AL KORABE, YEMENI FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "The Yemeni president will remain in power until elections, scheduled to take place in 90 days according to the agreement. Definitely, there are young people protesting against it, but I assure you there are more people that hail the agreement and disagree with protesters." FLAGS OF GCC COUNTRIES
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6MX35YEJNHB4I4INPCZY6QYDF
  • Story Text: Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday (November 23) hailed an agreement aimed at bringing an end to months of unrest in Yemen.
    Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a deal agreeing to step down after 33 years in power and 10 months of protests against his rule that brought the country to the brink of civil war.
    Under the agreement, signed with opposition leaders at a ceremony hosted by Saudi King Abdullah at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saleh will immediately transfer his powers to his deputy, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. In return he will retain the title of president until a new head of state is elected.
    Celebrations erupted in Sanaa as Saleh inked the agreement but at the Gulf Cooperation Council's headquarters in the Saudi capital, Yemeni opposition leaders expressed their dissatisfaction.
    "We believe this agreement has been delayed and it has had a huge impact on the economy. It has led to bloodshed and has left us with many widows and orphans. May God forgive whoever was behind this delay," said Ali Abd Rabbuh al-Kadi, representing the opposition side.
    Saudi state television broadcast live the signing ceremony, where Saleh was shown chatting and sipping traditional coffee with King Abdullah.
    Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said he hoped the agreement would open a new chapter for Yemen.
    "We hope that signing the agreement will bring an end to the conflict and we hope it helps Yemen to return to its previous state and lets it enjoy security and stability and achieve its aspirations," said Prince Saud al-Faisal.
    Details of the power transfer deal -- drawn up by Yemen's richer neighbours in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) earlier this year, and thwarted by Saleh on three separate occasions -- were hammered out by U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar, with support from U.S. and European diplomats.
    The UN's envoy to Yemen said he hoped the agreement would lead to an opening up of the political arena in the country.
    "It opens the way for other political forces to join the political process, a process that can be only Yemeni-led, a process for a transition that hopefully will lead to reconciliation and reconstruction of the country," said Jamal bin Omar.
    Despite positive reactions from the GCC, the deal to nudge Saleh from power was denounced by some of the youth protesters who have emerged as a presence in Yemen's politics, and regard the parties that negotiated his exit as partners in the crimes of which they accuse Saleh.
    But Yemen's foreign minister said more people supported the agreement than supported the protesters.
    "The Yemeni president will remain in power until elections, scheduled to take place in 90 days according to the agreement. Definitely, there are young people protesting against it, but I assure you there are more people that hail the agreement and disagree with protesters," said Abo-Baker al-Korabe.
    Hundreds of people have been killed during months of protests seeking Saleh's removal from power. The political deadlock has reignited simmering conflicts with separatists and militants, raising fears that Yemen's al Qaeda wing could take a foothold on the borders of Saudi Arabia.
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