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Emerging Democracies Forum
Managing the Twin Transitions
Opening Ceremonies
(12 of 29 pages)
First of all, the Yemeni society, which dates back to the second millenium before
Christ if not before, is a society that is rich with traditions that were inherent for thousands of years, therefore
it could not move overnight and suddenly and completely from a phase where everything is governed by traditions
and by customs to a new stage which is sometimes not compatible with our traditions and what we are used to in
Yemen. I mean the democratic practices in full. And no wonder, because the most ancient democracy in the world
did not give the women the right to vote until the beginning of this century - I mean the U.K.
Second, there is specificity for Yemeni society which is more obvious here than in other countries participating
in this forum. The Yemeni society is fragmented and isolated over mountains and even on mountain foot and on slopes
and plains and in the shape of small settlements of no more than 300 people. With the exception of some settlements
which are classified urban, but the total number of the population of the urban assessments are no more than 25
percent of the population of Yemen, which is about 17 million people. No doubt this state places great obstacles
in facing awareness of democracy and in practicing democracy.
Third, we have illiteracy, which is very widespread in our society, and even more widespread among the female population.
We all know that in our countries illiteracy, whatever the rate, is one of the main obstacles to consolidating
democracy.
Fourth, no doubt that each traditional society has its specifications, which characterize a society. The main characteristic
of Arab societies in general and of Yemeni society in particular is what is known as the tribal formations. Despite
the fact that this phenomenon is receding in the face of literacy and in the face of more choices for the individual
and with the increase of the urban settlement. Still it poses an obstacle in practicing democracy, which we see
today in some of the more established democracies. The Yemeni society mainly is an agricultural society and we
all know that the degree of awareness of practicing democracy in such societies is usually much less than in prevailing
what is so-called industrial societies.
Six, the democratic concept in our society is confined largely to the enthusiasm of voters, which is very remarkable,
but it ends with elections. It's very rare that the voters try to monitor the work of the person they vote for.
Seventh, women represent half of our society yet still the role of women is still very limited. And this is one
of the problems that every emerging democracy suffers from - and a point that we have to discuss in full in our
forum. And eighth, emerging democracy, which is not combined with social and economic sustainable development,
will definitely remain always subject to the threat of receding if not of a huge setback.
I do believe that all participants, observers, donors, and guests fully realize this relation that I believe deserves
our attention and our interaction during our historic forum. Despite all that and above all that, it's very lucky
for us in Yemen that democracy, political pluralism, the emergence of the civil society institutions, the freedom
of press, has always been combined in an inseparable way with the reunification of Yemen on the 22nd of May 1990.
Democracy and unity were an inseparable pair and that touch any one of them would be the definite elimination of
the other party. That's why I'm really confident that democracy in our country is very deep rooted - the same as
unity, and sustainable development, and the receding of illiteracy, and the emergence of civil society institutions,
the involvement of women in our social and economic life - all those factors are factors that would eliminate all
the obstacles I mentioned above.
In conclusion, please allow me to allude to the major and common factors that impose on us the coordination and
cooperation to establish democracy and to continue exchanging points of view and experiences so that our forum
would be a linking point between all of us. The most important task for us is the democracy and development. We
should always say that democracy is one package and it is the only way to realize the aspirations of our peoples,
their political, economic, and social aspirations, as well as social justice. And this package is the basis of
sustainable development.
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