Yemeni Government Kickstarts 2023 with Measures to Protect the Economy, Stabilize the Currency

The Yemeni Supreme Economic Council holds a meeting in Aden (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Supreme Economic Council holds a meeting in Aden (Saba News Agency)
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Yemeni Government Kickstarts 2023 with Measures to Protect the Economy, Stabilize the Currency

The Yemeni Supreme Economic Council holds a meeting in Aden (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Supreme Economic Council holds a meeting in Aden (Saba News Agency)

The internationally recognized Yemeni government has launched 2023 by taking measures to protect the economy and stabilize the local currency, according to official sources.

Government measures included an emphasis on rationalizing spending and sticking to inevitable expenses.

Moreover, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) underlined the need for strengthening unity, discussing efforts to end the coup waged by Houthi militias and restore state institutions.

According to Saba News Agency, PLC head Rashad al-Alimi led a closed meeting for the ruling body on Wednesday.

All members of the PLC contributed to the discussions. While Sultan al-Errada, Abdurrahman al-Mahrami, Abdullah al-Alimi, and Othman Mujalli were present in person, Aidarous Azaibaid, Tariq Saleh and Faraj al-Bahssani contributed to the meeting via video conference.

The session was devoted to discussing the latest developments in the national arena, action-plans and practical policies to alleviate the citizens’ suffering, in addition to bolstering national alignment and efforts to restore the state’s institutions and end the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias.

With fears growing over Houthi attacks continuing to obstruct oil exports, the government approved a set of measures to mitigate damage, improve resources, and stabilize the price of the local currency.

The Supreme Economic Council, headed by Prime Minister Maeen Abdel-Malik, also approved a package of measures that promote and improve living conditions for Yemeni citizens and alleviates their suffering.

The Council, in its meeting in the interim capital, Aden, reviewed the proposals submitted by the Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik and Central Bank Governor Ahmed Ghaleb.

Rationalizing spending, raising revenues in line with the new changes, and dealing with the repercussions of Houthi terrorist attacks targeting crude oil export ports were among the proposals presented by Braik and Ghaleb.

Not only do Houthi attacks impact humanitarian conditions in Yemen, but they also affect energy supplies and international freedom of navigation.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that the situation was "good in principle" following two hours of talks with US envoy Amos Hochstein to discuss the US proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Some details of the proposal still needed to be hashed out, including technical details, he added.

He said Hochstein would settle those details before travelling on to Israel, and that Lebanon saw the United States as the guarantor of the Israeli stance.

On whether the draft under discussion was also addressed with the Israelis, he said Hochstein "is coordinating with them over it."

"This wouldn’t be the first time the Israelis renege on their pledges," he added.

Hochstein had arrived in Beirut on Tuesday and kicked off his talks with Berri, who has been tasked by Hezbollah in negotiating on its behalf.

Hochstein said he held "very constructive talks" with Berri and that there was a "real opportunity" to bring the conflict between the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah and Israel to an end.

"This is a moment of decision-making. I am here in Beirut to facilitate that decision but it's ultimately up to the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our grasp," he told reporters after the meeting.