STC Acting President Receives Former PM Haidar Abu Bakr Al-Attas

Mr. Ali Abdullah Al-Kathiri, Acting President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Chairman of the National Assembly, has received today, Wednesday, at the headquarters of the House of Commons in the capital, Aden, HE Haidar Abu Bakr Al-Attas, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council in the South, last Prime Minister, and now advisor to the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).

The Acting President of the STC and Mr. Al-Attas held an expanded meeting with members of the STC’s Presidium, the STC's ministers in the government and heads of the auxiliary bodies, and members of the executive bodies of the National Assembly and the Council of Advisors.

Mr. Al-Kathiri began the meeting by welcoming the return of Mr. Al-Attas to the capital, Aden, after an absence of more than three decades, conveying to him the greetings of President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the STC and Vice Chairman of the PLC, and appreciating his keenness to visit the House of Commons and meet with the leaders of the STC.

Al-Kathiri provided a succinct overview of the STC's founding, the work mechanisms of its bodies, the tasks assigned to each body, and the important hard-won gains the STC has substantially been achieving for the cause of the people of the South on the political, military, and diplomatic fronts, the phases of the Southern National Dialogue, and the STC's efforts to foster cohesiveness, unify the ranks, and solidify the home front.

Al-Kathiri praised the great struggle roles of President Al-Attas, the immense efforts he made throughout his career as one of the prominent political leaders in the history of the South, and the visions and ideas he presents that fall within the framework of uniting ranks and strengthening national cohesiveness of the South.

The Acting President of the STC then gave the floor to the Prime Minister Al-Attas to deliver an orientation speech, at the beginning of which he expressed his overwhelming happiness to return to the capital, Aden, where he spent most of his life until he was forced to leave in 1994.

Mr. Al-Attas expressed his satisfaction with the determination he had witnessed to improve the city's situation and restore its leading position as a civilized city that embraces all, despite what happened during the recent war, pointing out that the elimination of the negative impacts is a prerequisite to move forward towards reconstruction.

Al-Attas highlighted that the STC has great tasks and responsibilities to make the governorates of the South a role model for the state and to deal positively with the existing political realities until reaching a new consensual political formula that satisfies all.

Al-Attas stressed the importance of the STC continuing its efforts to unify Southern ranks and foster integration with various components of the South, based on partnership and cooperation, to achieve the goals for which the people of the South have ultimately been striving.

In his speech, he touched on the overall political situation in the country and the developments in all the governorates of the South, with a particular focus on Hadhramaut, underscoring that Hadhramaut is the cornerstone of the South and that there can be no South without Hadhramaut.

Following this, the floor was opened for discussion and remarks among those present on a range of topics and issues on the national scene. A vibrant exchange of views and ideas took place before the Acting President of the STC concluded the meeting by expressing thanks to President Al-Attas for his visit and for the insights, ideas, and advice he had shared, which are the essence of a long and distinguished career in politics and administration.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Ahmed Al-Saleh and Mr. Jaber Mohammed, advisor to the Chairman of the PLC.