Almotamar.net - Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and External Relations of the General People’s Congress GPC Sultan al-Barakani has on Tuesday asserted that postponement of the legislative elections that were scheduled in this April and the extension of the parliament term came on the grounds of national considerations rather than political . He reiterated the mentioning of non-existence of a deal between the GPC and the opposition outside the agreement.

In an interview to Al-Khaleej newspaper of the Emirates al-Barakani pointed out that the most important problems facing Yemen are economic and combating terror issues in addition to drop in op in oil prices. he said, “ I believe that the most significant problems facing Yemen are the issues of economy and fighting terror, which no doubt have affected the outlets that we were thinking they would constitute solutions and there is also the problem of drop in oil prices that has become one of the existing problems at present.”
Despite his affirmation of the state of assurance concerning Yemen security by virtue of its leadership and all the faithful, al-Barakani stressed the importance of serious dealing with the existing problems and taking urgent measures for encountering them and to tighten belts for improving the economic situations.

On the question of terror, al-Barakani , “ we have to fight terror because it does not only harm Yemen’s reputation and affects it economically but also costs great expenses at the expense of development. I think the period of two years, after accord on postponing the elections, is supposed not to change into a political issue and be devoted to exciting issues such as the form of the electoral system or other issues but all must cooperate and stand seriously for tackling the present problems.”

He stressed that confronting terror should be a national issue, saying, “Some believe that the authority and al-Qaeda are in confrontation of each other whilst it is supposed that the case must be a national one and the responsibility of all citizens and not just the political parties. A public opinion must be created on this issue. The people should feel that the issue of terror is not an ordinary one that can be dealt with or conducting dialogue about it or to reach into accord for it. “Terror must not be an object of argument or discussion or difference it must be the issue of politicians, authority and opposition, the information and education as well as the issue of mosque preachers and all the people. He has also refused to restrict the confrontation with al-Qaeda to certain areas, confirming it is not easy to play issues down by saying it is possible to surround an area or burn it.

While al-Barakani denied the existence of American or foreign military bases in Yemen he said “ what has been said about this subject is no more of its being a kind of promoting for fantasies with some politician in the opposition or in some media instruments.”

On piracy al-Barakani pointed out that it has become a phenomenon disturbing the entire world and hinted the existence of international connivance with the pirates. He called on the world to deal with the subject of piracy seriously as it represents a change to Yemen’s security.