[21 March 2004] SANA'A,(Saba)- The Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Democracy,Human Rights and the Role of the International Criminal Court was brought to an end here on Monday.

The President of the Sudanese Umah Party Al-Sadeq Al-Mahadi read the final statement of the conference. Here is a translated version of the statement:

"The Regional Conference on Democracy, Human Rights, and Role of the International
Criminal Court was organized by the Republic of Yemen in coordination with No Peace Without Justice, in Sana'a on 11-12 January. The event was and attended by a large number of government and parliamentary delegations, 820 participants represented 52 countries and international and regional organizations. The conference focused on all various aspects of democracy, human rights and role of the international criminal court. The participants exchanged experiences and viewpoints with the delegations of the Civil Society Organizations.

The participants highlighted the Yemeni experience in democracy and its positive effects on life in general. They cited the electoral system, decentralization, the further involvement of people in decision-making and the state support for NGOs to do their jobs.

The participants stressed the imperative of freeing the Mideast region from Weapons of Mass Destruction, and condemned the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians by murdering people and demolishing houses and farms. They called on Israel quit the construction of the separation barrier and settlements which constitute obstacles for fair peace and double the suffering of the Palestinian people. They also urged the coalition forces in Iraq to transfer power to the Iraqi people as soon as possible, so that they regain their sovereignty and hold free and impartial elections.

The participants asserted the importance of the role of the United Nations in any arrangement related to the future of Iraq. Moreover, they confirmed that terror is a threat to democracy and human rights. They said that an international conference to forge an agreement against terrorism and discriminate between legal resistance.

They also pointed out to the importance of drawing a future draft for cooperation between NGOs to help countries exchange experiences in field of development democracy and human rights.

The participants thanked President Ali Abdullah Saleh for sponsoring the conference, the Yemeni people for their hospitality, and the No Peace Without Justice, the European Union and other partners for their contribution to the successful conference.

AH/AA
SABA