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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Nov 09 2010 - 13:39:08 EST
Asharq Al-Awsat Talks to Yemeni Presidential Adviser Salem Saleh
09/11/2010
By Sawsan Abu-Husain
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- Salem Saleh, adviser to Yemeni President Ali
Abdullah Saleh, has said that the remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the parcel bombs that originated from Yemen
"reflects the extent to which the fingers of Israel's Mossad are involved in
such dirty cases".
In a telephone interview from Sanaa with Asharq Al-Awsat, the presidential
advisor pointed out that the fact that the date of the US [mid-term]
elections coincided with the issue of the parcel bombs "requires scrutiny"
in order to uncover the party that stood behind such deeds. Saleh praised
the role of the custodian of the two holy shrines and his concern for Yemen.
He also praised the security coordination between Riyadh and Sanaa in
combating terrorism. Saleh rejected the stands of several Yemeni online
sites and newspapers that reported that Saudi Arabia did not inform the
Yemeni side about the parcel bombs. Saleh called on the US Administration to
review its policy "so as not to deceive public opinion with words that are
incompatible with its deeds on the ground". Saleh called for a comprehensive
national reconciliation in Yemen to resolve the consequences of the crisis
with the Huthists, the Southern Mobility Movement, and Al-Qaeda.
The text of the interview follows:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are your thoughts regarding the parcel bombs that
were said to have originated in Yemen?
[Saleh] First of all, we are waiting for the results of the investigations
that several countries are holding on the issue of the parcel bombs. In this
context, it is important to combine all efforts to confront the phenomenon
of terrorism in all its forms and shapes. Parcel bombs and so on are
terrorist means that kill innocent civilians. Such deeds should be condemned
and repulsed regardless of their motives or the sides that stand behind
them. However, the appearance of such parcel bombs on certain occasions,
such as the current US congressional elections, the materials that were used
in making them, and the way they were made - in a highly sophisticated
manner that are known only to intelligence services like the Mossad - drive
us to scrutinize the matter in order to expose the party that stands behind
such deeds. It is hard for states or individuals with modest means to design
such parcels.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you believe that there is an Israeli role, at least in
inflating the issue of the parcel bombs in the media?
[Saleh] We do not rule out an Israeli role. The statement by the Israeli
Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) in this matter reflects the degree to
which Israel's Mossad is involved in such dirty matters.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think that western capitals may push Yemen to a war
under the banner of fighting Al-Qaeda or terrorism?
[Saleh] Former US President George W. Bush adopted a radical rightist policy
that entangled the United States in several swamps in Afghanistan, Iraq, and
Somalia and in preemptive wars of attrition. After the notorious 11
September "attacks", he almost involved the United States in a losing war in
the Middle East region under the slogan of fighting terrorism. Had it not
been for the wisdom of the leaders of these countries that did not become
entangled in Bush's schemes, the "creative chaos" for which former US
Secretary of State Condoleezza used to promote would have prevailed in the
region.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] So how do you interpret the US conduct towards Yemen and
the region in general?
[Saleh] US President Obama - whom we welcomed when he came to power, who was
received in Cairo on behalf of our Arab and Muslim brothers, and who
delivered his historic speech at Cairo University in which he appealed to
the Arab and Muslim peoples and governments to help him carry out a new
American vision - is now not different from his predecessor President Bush.
We admit that Obama enjoyed the welcome and admiration of the Arab and
Muslim peoples. However, under the pressure of the radical right, he is now
vacillating and returning to the same former US policy, particularly
regarding his failure to persuade the extremist Israeli leadership to
recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. President Obama is also
failing to end the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and is following the
policy of intervention at varying degrees in the domestic affairs of all the
countries in the region. All this is different from the ideas that Obama
presented in his speech in Cairo to the Arab and Muslim world in an attempt
to improve the image that he inherited from his predecessor. Thus, the
United States should review its policy in order not to deceive public
opinion with words that are incompatible with its practices on the ground.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is the role of Yemen and President Ali Abdullah Saleh
in besieging Al-Qaeda? What is required on the Arab and international levels
at the current stage?
[Saleh] There is strong coordination and security cooperation on a high
level between Yemen and its neighbors, especially the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. This has led to international cooperation between our countries, the
United States, and the European Union. However, gaps still exist and
terrorism is deriving its strength from these gaps and exploiting them to
hit vital targets in Yemen and other countries. One of the principal
problems facing the security organs in these countries is that the sources
of terrorism were not eradicated, particularly in the poor countries. Thus,
these countries should be helped to solve its internal problems, such as
poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. Relying only on hunting down and
apprehending some members of this or that terrorist organization and
considering that a step toward victory over the terrorism coming from these
poor countries is no longer a solution at all.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you assess the Saudi role? What is required from
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
[Saleh] From reading several Yemeni electronic sites and newspapers that are
attacking the kingdom regarding the issue of not informing the Yemeni side
about the parcel bombs, I must say out of love and loyalty to the kingdom
that these sites and newspapers do not express the position of the Yemeni
people in the north or the south. The Yemeni people respect, appreciate, and
love the custodian of the two holy shrines and the fraternal Saudi people
and government. We deal with the kingdom's leadership, people, and
government the way we deal with our own brethren. Our dreams and aspirations
are united in origins, religion, and neighborliness. We have repeatedly
emphasized that there is constant coordination and strong security
cooperation between Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] So how can Yemen be helped in overcoming its most
prominent issues, such as Al-Qaeda, the Huthists, and the Southern Mobility
Movement?
[Saleh] In my book that was published a few months ago entitled "A Remedy
for Contentious National Issues", I said that Yemen needs urgent national
reconciliation. The primary responsibility for achieving this reconciliation
lies on the shoulders of the current official authorities because there is
no one to compete with it in the first place and there is no one that is
threatening its existence in its positions. There should a suitable
groundwork for national reconciliation with the participation of all. After
that, a program of action can be drawn up to solve and implement all the
issues.
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