STC Political Body Holds Consultative Meeting with Signatories of Southern National Charter

The Political Body in the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) held a consultative meeting on Sunday in the capital, Aden, with leaders of the components of the South, political parties, and unions that signed the Southern National Charter to enhance coordination and joint action in the upcoming phase.

During the meeting, Mr. Abdulrahman Jalal Shaher Al-Subaihi, a member of the STC Presidium and Secretary-General, delivered a speech conveying the greetings of President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi and reaffirmed the political leadership's commitment to continuing the people of the South's quest towards independence and the restoration of the independent federal state of the South within the pre-May 21, 1990, borders.

Mr. Al-Subaihi indicated that convening the meeting under the umbrella of the Southern National Charter represents a significant milestone in the course of the just cause of the South. He emphasized that the Charter and the outcomes of the May 2023 grand consultative meeting established a genuine national partnership that moved past the failures of the past and outlined a future based on partnership and integration among the various components of the South.

The Secretary-General stressed that the strategic moves led by President Al-Zubaidi, both domestically and internationally, represent the demands of the people of the South and defend their interests in regional and international forums. He underscored that the current phase is delicate and pivotal, requiring southern cohesiveness and national alignment as a strategic choice to confront political, economic, and security challenges.

Al-Subaihi called for cooperation and integration in political and media fields and the adoption of a unified national discourse, praised the ultimate sacrifices of the heroes of the Southern armed forces and security services in protecting the South, promising the people to press forward towards achieving their goals and aspirations, and reiterated gratitude to the official brothers in the Arab Coalition for their unwavering support for the cause of the South and countering hostile projects.

In his speech, Mr. Anis Al-Sharafi, head of the Political Body, explained that the South is going through a delicate phase that requires all forces and components of the South to work jointly and not miss important available opportunities, particularly given the current international stance, which calls for doubled vigilance and responsibility so that the South does not become a victim.

Mr. Al-Sharafi pointed to the importance of overcoming minor differences to achieve the supreme goal of restoring the state of the South, reaffirming everyone's readiness to review any documents or amendments in the interest of the South, while preserving the fundamental documents emanating from the National Charter as the comprehensive framework and guarantor of national constants.

The head of the Political Body affirmed that hostile forces are trying to target the South and stir up chaos and internal conflicts in light of the political progress achieved by its people, stressing the necessity of adhering to the National Charter, setting aside minor disagreements, and working with a team spirit to protect the national cause of the South.

The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Abdul Salam Musa'id, head of the Southern National Dialogue Team (SNDT), who welcomed the attendees and clarified that this meeting is not a traditional seminar nor a regular workshop, but rather a brotherly gathering that brings together senior leadership for consultation and exchange of views with the various components that signed the Southern National Charter, and thanked all participating in that momentous event.

Dr. Musa'id confirmed that this meeting aims to discuss ways of administrative and political coordination and mechanisms for dealing with the national cause of the South, which is facing many attacks, as well as unifying the media discourse amid the changes witnessed by the just cause and the moves undertaken by President Al-Zubaidi on the international level. Moreover, he considered this step as one that lays the groundwork for greater cooperation and coordination in the coming phase.

The head of the SNDT indicated that the people of the South are making ultimate sacrifices on the frontlines, which obligates everyone on the home front to work with the same spirit and responsibility. He reaffirmed that this meeting launches a new phase of work in the sense of the Southern National Charter and enhances coordination in stances, media discourse, and joint cooperation among political forces.

The meeting included interventions from participants, who presented visions, ideas, and proposals on ways to boost coordination and develop mechanisms for joint action to confront the current challenges facing the cause of the South.