Hassan Al-Zaidi Yemen Post - “The dialogue with opposition parties is nonstop and Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) do not represent all opposition parties. Further, we were having dialogue with them because they are represented in the parliament. ” Ghanim


He is a man who spent a considerable part of his life dealing with legal affairs. He assumed many ministerial posts and he is a graduate from Cairo University. He served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Unity Affairs under former South Yemen. He also led the constitutional committee that set the unified Yemen's constitution and signed it on behalf of former South Yemen.
Following Yemen's reunification in 1990, he became Minister of Legal Affairs and contributed to formulating many legislations and laws as necessitated in a phase that required merging governmental institutions in both countries.
Today, he is a member of Shoura Council and Arab Parliament. Abdullah Ghanim was born in Aden in August 20, 1947 and he is the head of the Political Office at the General People's Congress (GPC) ruling party.
Because of being busy, our interview with him was brief but he promised to give us more time for next interviews.

YEMEN POST: How do you see the current political situation in Yemen, together with the growing differences?
Abdullah Ghanim: What is happening in Sa'ada and some southern areas is included in hurting the one Yemen though with numerous slogans. Some try to use the current situation to harm the country.

YP: But there are the demands?
AG: We in the GPC support the legitimate demands and we will never stand against them, however, we attentively scrutinize those practices that take the legitimate demands as a cover up to hide bigger goals aiming to harm the country's unity.

YP: Does this mean that the unity is in danger?
AG: In principle I don't think so. We still have to keep alert to some dangers that associate unity‘s route while heading towards building Yemen's modern state as its enemies could appear here and there and from time to time under different pretexts. Sometimes these pretexts are sectarian, positional or protests against the loss of rights. Here we would like to say that unity has priority to rights and pretexts.

YP: Some media sources mentioned about mediation efforts between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition members abroad who are thought to be behind the demonstrations in southern provinces?
AG: There is nothing to prevent such mediation in case it exists. If not, there is nothing that prevents the president from acting so and contacting Yemeni citizens inside and outside the country.

YP: Don’t you agree that GPC used to support Houthis in the past?
AG: The government did not support Houthis as a group in the past.

YP: But the GPC did support Houthis during the latest elections?
AG: GPC's support of Yemeni citizens is something natural. We supported them as citizens and not an organization.

YP: Do you think that some internal forces are benefiting from this crisis?
AG: Perhaps.

YP: How do you view the current situation in Sa'ada?
AG: Out of a practical point of view, it is one of the attempts aiming to weaken the Yemeni state.

YP: Deputy Head of the Political Office Mohammed Ali Abu Luhum was referred to investigation, why?
AG: Luhum is facing a party inquiry and it is not a criminal investigation. It is something customary and all known parties practice such a measure. It is an internal measure that does not affect his personal status and so far no decision has been taken.

YP: How do you see Yemen's economic future, especially when its oil exports witnessed a drop, plus the recent terrorist attacks?
AG: Despite of all these circumstances, I am still optimist about Yemen's future. Investments have started to flow particularly in fish wealth, tourism, real estate sectors, etc. In addition to state's development plans, we expect more investments in other fields including the development of human workforce.

YP: How do view opposition's boycott of dialogue with the ruling party?
AG: The dialogue with opposition parties is nonstop and Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) do not represent all opposition parties. Further, we were having dialogue with them because they are represented in the parliament.

YP: Does this mean that JMP intends to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections?
AG: I could assure now that JMP will take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and this assurance stems from my knowledge of these parties' leaderships.

YP: Still, opposition parties say that GPC has majority members within the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum and have gone against the agreement of principles signed between them and you?
AG: Our having the majority in the Supreme Commission is not a strong proof for them to boycott them. If they wanted more, they should prove that to the people and have the people vote for them to win a majority.

YP: Does this mean that GPC possesses the majority?
AG: We have the right to benefit from our majority at parliament and none has the right to deny us this right.

YP: You belonging to the southern governorates, how do you see Reconciliation and Toleration Forums?
AG: Those in charge of these forums kill each other when they disagree and slaughter the unity in case they agree.

YP: How do you see the recent terrorist attack in Hadramout?
AG: Hadramout terrorist attack is separate from the demonstrations called for by those who view themselves as pensioners' representatives.

YP: What is the thing that pleased you most?
AG: Yemeni unity.

YP: Were you forced one day to do something you are not content about it?
AG: I don't remember and I don't deny that.

Yemen Post weekly published this interview in its issue on 11 February 2008.
Abdullah Ghanim, Head of the Political Circle for the Ruling Party (GPC):