US: Yemen's democratic transition success depends on National Dialogue

Despite "determined leadership", Yemen's democratic transition success hinges on a National Dialogue and developing "viable government institutions", a senior U.S. official said. State Department Deputy Secretary William Burns praised, late on Thursday, Yemen's democratic transition and urged for more rapid international support to help alleviate the nation's immediate humanitarian and economic crises, pointing out the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen remains less than 50 percent funded. However, "International support can help to alleviate immediate humanitarian and economic crises, but for Yemen's transition to be successful, Yemenis must pursue the National Dialogue and develop viable government institutions," Burns noted in remarks at a ministerial meeting in Washington. Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi said that the national dialogue, meant to begin on November 15, will be crucial for the future of the country. The dialogue is principally meant to deal with separatist movements in Yemen's south, and to be a sounding board for Yemeni women and youth. The United States has pledged to work with Yemen's government, private sector and civil society, emphasizing it's "strong commitment" to Yemen. It is on track to more than double assistance to Yemen this fiscal year, providing over USD 346 million. "Our relationship with Yemen is about much more than security and counterterrorism. There can be no lasting stability and no freedom from extremism in Yemen without political reform and economic progress. Together, our aid will provide the space for the GCC initiative and its vision for political transition to succeed by stabilizing Yemen's economic situation and avoiding an impending humanitarian crisis," Burns said.