KUWAIT CITY, 19 November 2006 — A number of MPs have criticized the government for donating $200 million to Yemen, reports Al-Anbaa newspaper. Sources say the government donated the sum to support several Yemeni development projects, but MPs believe that the government should write off loans of its citizens instead of granting loans and donations to other countries.
“The government is following a blind policy toward Yemen and this donation is part of that blind policy,” said MP Hussain Mizyed, who accused the government of having a negative attitude toward its own citizens. “Why is the government being generous to countries that did not support us, especially during the Iraqi invasion in 1990?”
He ended his speech saying all MPs reject this “blind policy” of the government.
On Thursday, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Sabah pledged $200 million in easy loans to Yemen, part of a multi-billion-dollar assistance from the international community to Yemen.
The grant, upon the directives of Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, is meant to back the Yemeni government’s development schemes for fighting corruption, poverty, unemployment and boosting transparency.
Sheikh Mohammad said his country’s contribution was part of regional and international endeavors to support Yemen overcome its economic problems. He said the support from Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states was in compliance with resolutions of the last GCC summit to back Yemen in its economic reform programs.
During the two-day conference, many Western countries and international organizations have pledged financial aid to Yemen.
Sheikh Mohammad said Kuwait has been clear in its seriousness of assisting Yemen “to fighting poverty, unemployment, and removing all hurdles blocking economic development.”
The meeting was attended by senior officials representing 39 countries, including Kuwait, and development agencies. At a new briefing at the end of the conference, Yemeni President Abdullah Saleh expressed his appreciation to the World Bank, GCC states, other countries and organizations that contributed to help Yemen through these donations and loans.
He pledged Yemen’s commitment to continue on the path of reform to achieve all declared objectives of economic development and social progress.
