The Second Yemeni Economic Conference
Sana'a  18 - 20 April, 1998

Abstract 15

This paper is preluded with a short introductory dealing with the traditional goals of international cooperation programs from the viewpoint of donor countries. It highlights the position of Yemen vis-a-vis these goals, whether from the viewpoints of geography, demography, and development or from the approaches, options, and general policies which determine the social, economic, and political development that has recently crystallized in the form of a comprehensive program for economic, financial, and administrative reforms, together with a program for political modernization. Both programs came into practice a couple of years ago.

The paper indicates that Yemen was able during the last few decades, and as a result of her moderate policy and constructive stance towards issues of interest to the international community, to distance herself from climates of political and ideological polarization that characterized international relations during the Cold War era. Yemen managed to establish active cooperation relations with various political and ideological blocs and without discrimination.

The paper thus clarifies that Yemen, through its balanced foreign policy that is based on the promotion of mutual interests by enhancing and expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields, in addition to Yemen’s liberal attitude and openness to the outside world and the constructive policies relating to political reforms, human rights, and economic and social modernization etc., as well as the positive, principled and practical stance towards consolidating peace and regional and international security; all the above have made it possible for Yemen to gain the respect of many countries across the world. Yemen has become a favorite country in international cooperation programs as exemplified in the unanimous international support she received for the economic reform program and for settling the huge foreign debt burden.

The paper then briefly highlights some of the important programs in the area of bilateral and international cooperation and its achievements in supporting Yemen’s development and reform efforts. It also discusses the new developments related to the goals and criteria of international assistance and Yemen’s efforts to adapt to new situations in respect to either enhancing local capacities and the climate for private initiative, or consolidating and supporting the newly established civil society institutions.

The paper concludes by proposing a permanent work plan to regulate coordination work between the relevant government bodies involved in the economic reform program on the one hand and various international institutions on the other. This work plan seeks to raise efficiency and effectiveness in, and expand the scope of, cooperation programs.