UN official hails Yemen's National Dialogue Conference

Sanaa, Jan 22 (IANS/WAM) Jamal Benomar, special advisor to the UN secretary-general, has congratulated the people of Yemen for successfully holding the National Dialogue Conference (NDC).

"It is a historic moment for Yemen," Benomar said in a statement issued Wednesday, while expressing his pleasure to have participated in the NDC Final Plenary session, chaired by Yemen's President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

According to the SABA News Agency, Benomar commended the unprecedented Yemeni achievement.

"After being on the brink of civil war, Yemenis negotiated an agreement for peaceful change, the only such in the region," he said.

He noted that Yemen serves as a model for comprehensive national dialogue, based on transparency, inclusiveness and active and meaningful participation of all political and social constituencies.

"The National Dialogue established a new social contract and opened a new page in the history of Yemen, breaking from the past and paving the way for democratic governance founded on the rule of law, human rights and equal citizenship," the special advisor said.

He reaffirmed the support of the UN and the international community to the Yemen's political process, praising the leadership of President Hadi and the contributions of all political constituencies for this historic achievement.

--IANS/WAM

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