Almotamar.net - Chairman of the Shoura Council of Yemen Abdulaziz Abdulghani said Thursday the local authority, as it is a practical embodiment of the concept of local democracy, has become constitutional and legal commitment. It confirms its strong presence in all developments the pluralist democratic system in Yemen is witnessing.

He added this system is embodied by the periodic presidential, parliamentary and local elections, in the adoption of the principle of partnership with the civil society. It is also embodied by commitment to democratic principles and values that include political pluralism, peaceful transfer of power, respect of human rights, public freedoms and press freedom. He also pointed out that empowerment of the woman to participation in the public affair, constitutes one of the priorities of the democratic system. He said the just observer could not deny the developments the woman has achieved concerning her presence in the public affair.

Addressing the opening of meetings of the National Conference on Local Democracy in Yemen organized by Human Rights Information and Training Centre Hritc in cooperation with the International Foundation for Democracy and Elections and with support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development, Abdulghani expressed his happiness for attending the meeting that is concerned with local democracy and as part of the good contributions to activities of the civil society. He said , � We are today pondering a research project aiming at assessing local democracy in Yemen depending on examples of practical practices of the local authority in selected number of four governorates. �

For his part the Chair of the HRITC Izzudin al-Asbahi pointed out that the conference comes at an important moments when a serious consideration is needed for assessing democracy stemming out of a faith that democracy would not be consolidated but by more dialogues and constructive criticism for drawing up features of the future.