YEMENI President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s speech on the occasion of his country’s National Day marked the beginning of a new historical era. His call for internal restructuring is not strange for a man whose strategy is to ensure national unity until the end and break all barriers in this regard. This is due to his understanding from the beginning that unity determines the fate of Yemen, since there is no Yemen without unity. Citizens of Yemen and other countries should learn from the dire consequences of the previous division.  President Saleh’s call for participation of all political parties, both inside and outside the country, in the national dialogue within the purview of the law is magnanimous. This is especially notable considering Saleh enjoys the support of his people, the region and all Arabs no matter what position he takes.

 A few countries, which differ from most nations in the world, have no significant impact because the internal decision on unity is solid. Saleh has taken the right step by pardoning all detained journalists and militiamen, who participated in the political unrest in North and South Yemen. He has opened a new page and embarked on a contemporary national project. He has also foiled the attempt of some people to use certain propaganda to destabilize the country, which just got out of a difficult situation that could have turned it into another Somalia. This is important at this point in time as Arabs can no longer afford further division, because we are still grappling with conflicts in Sudan and Iraq. How can we allow Yemen to return to the era of fragmentation?

 The Yemeni conflict requires caution. It can overcome obstacles only under a united national umbrella. The risk of secession is no longer fashionable, considering the global dynamism over the last three decades. Yemen is no longer a backyard garden for major powers, as was the case during the Cold War. It is no longer an avenue for the export of tension and revolutionary illusions.  We have witnessed the failure of those who have been trying to divide the country. The Yemeni leadership always stands as a cover for all citizens in every situation — even during the ‘proxy’ war in which Iran fought from the North. The government did not take any irreversible position, since Saleh has opted to deal with the Houthis in a calm manner, believing they will retrace their steps under the national umbrella.

 Saleh has renewed unity by putting all political affiliations under the national umbrella, since “the country belongs to all and is big enough to accommodate everybody.” Based on this proposition, his call against parochial projects, political aggrandizement, selfishness, as well as racial, sectarian and tribal inclinations, implies the priority should be building strong state institutions to ensure economic development. This kind of achievement is not possible in a tension-filled and corrupt environment.

It is difficult to clamp down on negative actions if some people are keen on escalating tension in accordance with their belief that the citizens will allow them to pull back the wheels of history. Experience has shown this is just part of one’s day-dreams during a hot summer night. This can only lead to destruction, especially if they fail to choose their nation and its stability by disregarding a call for truce. Saleh has extended an olive branch to all political groups, so they have to prove their commitment to the national purpose by heeding his call.

Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com