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First Yemeni Budget Since Coup Worth $3.8 Billion

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (R) listens to his aide during a cabinet meeting of Yemeni ministerial council held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on May 18, 2016. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (R) listens to his aide during a cabinet meeting of Yemeni ministerial council held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on May 18, 2016. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
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First Yemeni Budget Since Coup Worth $3.8 Billion

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (R) listens to his aide during a cabinet meeting of Yemeni ministerial council held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on May 18, 2016. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (R) listens to his aide during a cabinet meeting of Yemeni ministerial council held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on May 18, 2016. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE

The Yemeni government announced on Sunday its first budget since Houthis launched their coup more than three years ago, with expenses worth $3.8 billion, revenues estimated at around $2.6 billion, and a financial deficit of 33 percent.

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr said that the Parliament would hold a meeting next month in Aden to approve the budget and reorganize the legislative branch in the country.

Sunday’s budget mainly approved the salaries of military employees and civil servants of the liberated provinces, in addition to providing payments for the reconstruction of institutions.

Bin Daghr told members of his government during the cabinet session in Aden, that the announced budget would cover the salaries of military employees and civil servants of 12 provinces for the whole year, in addition to specific sectors in the Houthi-controlled areas, including the judiciary, the health sector, universities and the high electoral committees.

The prime minister said that the government would pay the salaries of other government sectors in Houthi-controlled areas, only if the rebels supply financial revenues to the Central Bank.

The budget was released a few days after Saudi Arabia's $2bn deposit to the Yemeni central bank.

Bin Daher thanked the Kingdom, its King, Crown Prince, government and people for the deposit, saying “it came in the right timing.”

Meanwhile, Riyadh will witness on Monday a ministerial meeting of the Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, and the announcement of a comprehensive plan for humanitarian operations.

Foreign ministers of the coalition are expected to hold several meetings to tackle efforts to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemen.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry would head to Riyadh on Monday to take part in the meeting.

He said the talks reflect the coalition's commitment to meeting the humanitarian needs of the Yemen’s people and mirror the Egyptian government and people's solidarity with Yemenis in times of need.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.