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Speech of Staff Brig./ Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, Commander of the Republican Guard Forces and Commander of Special Forces in the consultative meeting with the leadership of the Republican Guard and Special Forces on 17/04/2012.



Greetings of soldiery, responsibility, and achievement.

I greet you with the high patriotic spirit, with which you perform your duties to please Allah, and to serve your nation.



This meeting is being held under extremely complicated circumstances, not only at the level of our country but also at the level of our entire Arab region.



Yemen is experiencing economic, governance, and security challenges in the wake of a one-year long crisis. It would have all but destroyed the country if not for the sincere efforts by the political leadership, which worked as one team under the leadership of the new President of the Republic, Marshal Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, since he served as the deputy of the founder of the modern, unified, and democratic Yemeni state, Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh. This, in combination with the regional and international community’s efforts allowed us to reach a settlement and arrive at the signing of the GCC Initiative between the parties.



I highly appreciate everything you have given and continue to give under your commitment and constitutional duties with your comrades in all units of the security and armed forces, who have made the greatest examples of sacrifice, steadfastness, and patience to protect the national order of the Republic of Yemen, which provides for no legitimacy other than the legitimacy of ballot box and the rule of majority, which is determined and defined by the legal ways recognized by all the countries of the democratic world through elections, and in accordance with the rule of law.



Your steadfastness served to protect the perseverance of the overwhelming majority of our brothers in all civil utilities of the State, and the majority of citizens who have been praying to Allah Almighty day and night to save Yemen from destruction.



You all played the most important role in protecting the institutions of the State and its capital city from falling into chaos, under the directives of the former High Commander of the armed forces, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the directives of the current High Commander Marshal Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, who assumed leadership since the moment of the terrorist attack on the mosque in the Presidential Compound, and became the President of the Republic and High Commander of the armed forces in a ceremony unprecedented in our region and in the history of Yemen.



While the armed forces and security pay everyday the price of their confrontation with Al Qaeda and extremism and terrorism, the political parties have been, highly regretfully, unable till the moment, to realize the needs of the armed forces for standing against challenges, the most dangerous of which is the terrorist activity in the Arabian Sea and Red Sea.

The security and armed forces pay dearly everyday as they confront Al Qaeda, extremism, and terrorism. Meanwhile, the political parties have, regretfully, been unable to meet the needs of the armed forces who stand in the face of these challenges, the most dangerous of which is the terrorist activity in the Arabian and Red Seas.



My brothers, I assure you that we are capable of facing the impossible for the sake our nation, and for protecting the Republic, Unity, and Freedom. We have deeply-rooted confidence in our people and political leadership, and that the future is being weaved every day with hope, work, patience, and solid will. The people of Yemen will never be defeated whatever the difficulties and challenges may be.



Our brothers, we are optimistic and confident that we are able to face all problems, fix all mistakes and forget the past. He who reads the history of our great republic will find that threats and risks only make the Yemenis stronger and more solid, for the glory of the Yemeni man is always to face and overcome challenges whatever they may be with the spirit of heroism and defiance. And with wisdom and reason they always weave life with tireless efforts to make themselves a success and draw on the pages of history their fortune in dignity, justice and freedom.



Brothers,

What is required of us all is to stand with pride and dignity; we must defeat fear and doubt, illusion, and accusations; we should exert efforts and make sacrifices to achieve the goals of Yemenis with the spirit of harmony and brotherhood.



It is high time to end fragmentation and to build a new strategy that is responsive to the ambitions of the people for change, building, and reconstruction. Our national duty is to build a historic and national bloc to protect the future, as Yemen is the glory for which we shall make sacrifices, and there is nothing impossible before a will that is well-knit, integrated, and heading towards the future.



Brothers,

In this turning point of history, we continue in our steadfastness as the free and noble, in the face of greed, selfishness, and worried and confused ambitions, which would have led us to separation and division… Some continue to toy with land and human life.



Brothers,

We have been patient, we have tolerated, and we have wagered only on the nation during this crisis. We stood before all malicious attempts that targeted its security and stability and tried to destroy all its great achievements. The political settlement and compromise yielded by the GCC Initiative and its implementation mechanism were only the fruits of our great efforts. It was a realistic product to rescue Yemen from the schemes of disorder, destruction, and sabotage.



Brothers,

Today, we stand in the face of tremendous challenges and risks: terrorism and conspiracies still exist, our national economy suffers, and obstacles to the settlement continue to be made by minds that cannot leave the past. I assure you that the wheel of transformation is moving forward towards the future, and that the delusional will not be able to obstruct it.



The building of the modern state – the state of law and order – is the essential precursor to launching forward towards the future. We will not be able to move towards the future without unifying our efforts and positions, without building the bridges of confidence, and without restoring the humanitarian and religious meaning of brotherhood. With these things we will be able to unify our word in order to establish freedom and justice.



Brothers,

The election of His Excellency, President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, embodied the meanings of the peaceful and smooth transfer of power, and was a wonderful example of the Yemeni democracy established by the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. More importantly, the elections were a clear expression of the constitutional legitimacy which we protected in compliance with the constitution and our job functions. We embodied, in all our work, the sublime meanings of our military honor, values, and principles.



The society knows very well that we were always doing our duty without bias and in accordance with our military principles. As soon as His Excellency President Hadi was elected, we immediately announced our loyalty to the new political leadership, and we will remain loyal to our duties and commitments. In this decisive phase of our history, we will make all sacrifices and efforts, and we will protect the constitutional legitimacy from the malicious intents of suicidal gamblers, and their greed for power.



We attach great hope to the ability and wisdom of His Excellency Marshal Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, who is blessed with the support of the Gulf and international communities, as well as the majority of the parties, in moving towards the future and building the new Yemen desired by everyone.



The Yemeni state has suffered from the same group that dominated the "Youth," who had legitimate demands that were included in many official programs and plans. The political leadership accepted these demands from the very first moment, and promised even more within a declared program. But this group blocked the road before the State and the Youth and dragged Yemen into the crisis, which, if not for the legendary steadfastness of the people and the army and the civil institutions, would have led Yemen into a devastating civil war.



Brothers,

His Excellency President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, will lead the coming phases - God willing – with decisiveness, strength, and intelligence. Our national duty requires us to protect our nation and our leader. We must do our best, with all our strength, to stabilize the pillars of peace so that all Yemenis can realize the upcoming hope – the hope of renaissance, development and progress.



Long live Yemen, free and defiant, and victory for all those who fight for freedom, and may the cowards never sleep in peace.



May Allah, the Almighty, bless you and help you in serving the interest of the nation and the citizen.



May peace be upon you all.