In March 1999, IFES and the Election Commission, with UN support, held a historic international colloquium on elections. Participants came from throughout the Arab world and from several western countries. Since 1990 Yemen has made tremendous strides toward establishing a democratic system and has set the pace in the region for the development of democratic institutions. It is clear that Yemen's leaders and its citizens are committed to achieving this goal. We recognize, however, that democratic transition is a long and arduous process, with no quick fixes or easy answers to be had.
International support is imperative to Yemen's success.
IFES hopes to continue assisting Yemen on its path toward a democratic future. I look forward to hearing President Saleh's views on Yemeni democracy and the direction his country is taking. Thank you very much.