YEMEN. Republic of Yemen
A state in Asia, located in the south and southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Area - about 550 thousand km², including Socotra Island and several other islands in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Capital - Sana'a (over 1.5 million), largest ports - Aden (about 500 thousand) and Hodeidah.
Administrative-territorial division - 19 provinces. Population - 19.7 million people (2004 census), mainly Arabs, with others being Indians, Pakistanis, Ethiopians, Somalis, and Jews. Up to 100 thousand - nomads in the east and northeast of the country. About 750 thousand Yemenis live in other countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The official language is Arabic. The state religion is Islam; by religious affiliation, the population is mainly divided into 2 approximately equal groups: Shiites of the Zaydi sect (in the mountainous areas of the northwest) and Sunnis of the Shafi'i school. There is a community of Ismailis. The currency is the Yemeni rial.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on October 31, 1955).
National holiday - May 22 - Yemen Unity Day (1990).
The Republic of Yemen was formed on May 22, 1990, through the voluntary unification of the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.
The current constitution was adopted in a nationwide referendum held in 1991. In February 2001, amendments to the constitution aimed at strengthening the president's power were approved in a nationwide referendum - the term of office was extended to 7 years (previously - 5 years).
President Ali Abdullah Saleh has held this position since 1978. In September 1999, Yemen held the first direct presidential elections in the country's history on an alternative basis. Saleh received over 93% of the votes. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2006. The highest legislative body is the House of Representatives (parliament). It has 301 deputies. Elected in April 2003 for a term of 6 years. The role of the second chamber of parliament is effectively performed by the Consultative Council formed by the president (111 members). The chairman is Abdul Ghani.
Major parties: General People's Congress (GPC) - 229 seats in parliament, chairman - Ali Abdullah Saleh, general secretary - Abdul Karim al-Iryani; Yemen Reform Union (Islah) - 46 seats and the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) - 7 seats. The GPC formed the ruling bloc, while Islah and the YSP are in opposition. The highest executive and administrative body of the state is the Council of Ministers headed by Prime Minister Abdul Qadir Bajamal (who took over the new government for the second time in May 2003).
The Islah party plays a significant role in the political life of the country. It represents a bloc of various organizations, with Islamic fundamentalists playing a leading role. The leader is Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar, elected for the third time as speaker of parliament.
Trade union association - General Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Yemen.
Yemen is one of the ancient centers of civilization. Here existed the states of Saba, Main, Qataban, Hadramaut, and others. The country was successively part of Aksum, Persia, the Arab Caliphate, Egypt, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1839, Aden (Southern Yemen) was occupied by the British. During the anti-Ottoman uprising of 1904-11, Northern Yemen gained autonomy, and in 1918 it was proclaimed an independent kingdom. In 1934, Britain signed a treaty with it, recognizing the independence of the Kingdom of Yemen. In 1962, as a result of an anti-feudal revolution in the North, the power of the imam was overthrown, and the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) was proclaimed. The subsequent civil war ended in 1970. The country's development followed the path of creating a market economy.
In 1967, after fierce struggles for independence, Southern Yemen became an independent state (from 1970 - the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen - PDRY). The leadership of the PDRY proclaimed the socialist orientation of the country.
However, the attempt at social development with a socialist orientation ended in failure; the situation in the country was complicated by the intensification of internal political struggles, rising tensions in relations with neighboring states, and armed clashes in 1972, 1979, and 1986-87. In this environment, the desire for Yemeni unity prevailed. In 1990, the YAR and the PDRY united into the Republic of Yemen. The remaining contradictions between the leaders of the former parts of Yemen led to a civil war in May 1994, in which Sana'a achieved victory in early July.
Currently, the leadership of the Republic of Yemen is focused on strengthening a unified centralized state.
As a member of the UN, Arab League, and OIC, Yemen aligns with the majority positions in these international organizations on issues of international security and stability, non-proliferation of WMD, and strengthening the role of the UN. Sana'a has declared its accession to the international anti-terrorist coalition.
According to the UN classification, Yemen is among the least economically developed countries in the world. GDP - $10.6 billion (2004), income per capita - $510 (2004). External debt - $5.2 billion. The budget deficit is covered by maintaining high oil prices and through concessional loans and grants received from abroad. Major donors include the World Bank, IMF, Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands.
According to the World Bank, Yemen's proven oil reserves are 4.5 billion barrels. In 2004, 24 million tons were produced. Oil export revenues exceeded $2.1 billion (about 91% of all foreign currency receipts). Natural gas reserves are about 452 billion m³. Annual production is 77 million m³.
More than 70% of the population is engaged in agriculture, which accounts for 16% of GDP. Major crops: grains, vegetables, fruits, melons, cotton, coffee. Animal husbandry (except for poultry) is poorly developed. Yemen catches less than 50% of its renewable fish and seafood resources. Industry employs 13% of the population, and its share in GDP is 40%. Products include oil products, building materials, cement, food products, medicines, clothing, cigarettes, and more.
The level of industrial infrastructure development in Yemen remains low. There are no heavy industry enterprises, the transport infrastructure is poorly developed, and there is a shortage of water.
The strategic directions of the government's economic policy include accelerated development of the oil industry and agriculture, creation of free economic zones, and encouragement of private capital.
There are 3 international airports: in Sana'a, Aden, and Al-Mukalla.
The complex social situation is exacerbated by rapid population growth, which has increased 2.5 times since 1975.
The population of Yemen is very young, with an average age of 21 years. The unemployment rate is 25% of the working-age population. 47% of the adult population is illiterate.
There are 7 state universities with an enrollment of 183 thousand people (17% female students), and 10 thousand primary and secondary schools.
The largest newspapers: "As-Saura," "Al-Jumhuriya," "Al-Islah." National news agencies: Saba and ANA. Radio and television stations are located in Sana'a and Aden.
