Hodeida. Conclusion of Second Scientific Conference on Yemen’s Islands

The second scientific conference on Yemen’s islands, organized on Thursday over two days by the University of Hodeida, concluded today in Hodeida province.

The objective of the Conference is to highlight the importance of the geographical location of the Yemeni Islands, the biodiversity and environment, the natural and economic characteristics and investment opportunities therein, and the dangers, threats and external ambitions of the Islands and their importance in protecting and securing international navigation.

Through 10 sessions, the Conference focused on three themes, including the geostrategic importance of Yemen’s islands, environmental and biological importance, and external ambitions.

The Conference, with the participation of researchers from universities, research and scientific centres, local bodies and institutions, from the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, the Sudan, Iraq, Algeria and Morocco, reviewed 67 research and working papers.

In conclusion, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Hussein Hazeb, commended the momentum and richness of the Conference’s research aspect on the Yemeni Islands and highlighted their importance at various levels.

Minister Hazeb, organizing this conference in conjunction with the 33rd National Day of the Republic of Yemen, May 22, viewed Yemeni enemies as a message to continue to confront Yemenis in the face of challenges and to thwart the schemes of colonial powers with knowledge, adherence to national constants, unity, freedom and the defence of sovereignty.

The Conference’s recommendations would be submitted to the Council of Ministers and the Supreme Council for Higher Education for use in various aspects.

The Minister of Higher Education called on public universities to take care of scientific research and keep abreast of developments, stating that preparations are under way to organize a scientific conference in the field of science and artificial intelligence to be held next November.

For his part, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ali Sharafuddin commended the conference’s interlocutors and the efforts of researchers and participants.

Yemen represented a strategic balance in the region with its sovereignty and management of islands and shipping lanes.

The President of Hodeida University, Dr. Mohammed Al-Ahdal, paid tribute to the active attendance of the participants in the conference and their role in achieving its objectives, stating that the events of the conference were characterized by discussion and fruitful scientific interventions. Lauded the role of the Ministry of Higher Education and the leadership of the governorate’s local authority in making the conference a success.

At the conclusion of the Conference, the participants affirmed the absolute rejection of any infringement or fragmentation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen over its maritime, air and land territory and of Yemen’s right to use all possible means to protect its territory, waters and islands and to confront the aggression that has caused the worst humanitarian catastrophe in contemporary history, while retaining Yemen’s legal right in prosecuting States of aggression before competent national and international courts.

They recommended strengthening the military protection of the Yemeni islands and promoting the liberation of the islands occupied by the Coalition of Aggression States and exposing the hidden objectives behind Yemen’s foreign presence in the islands, notably the United States, Zionist and Emirati military targets.

Participants stressed the need to activate the role of the national media in raising awareness of Yemen’s sovereignty over all Yemeni waters and islands and to highlight the crimes of aggression and their negative impact on all aspects of life in Yemen for local, regional and international public opinion.

The recommendations underscored the importance of reviewing and developing national laws that enhance the protection of Yemen’s islands against any direct or indirect occupation, particularly in the light of the minor treatment of international laws, in clarifying some issues relating to the maritime sovereignty of States over their territorial waters.

It called for updating laws and legislation to prevent the import or processing of nuclear wastes or the leasing of desert or island land for the dumping of hazardous and radioactive wastes, attention to the development of Yemen’s islands and infrastructure, improvement of basic services and action to create an attractive investment environment.

It also called for the preparation of an ambitious marine development plan, including the construction, restoration and modernization of fisheries ports affected by aggression and the development of transit ports to achieve sustainable management of fisheries and marine living resources, combat illegal fishing and conduct research into fisheries science and food safety.

She stressed the need to take advantage of the islands’ elements and sources and to direct the study and research centres to carry out workshops, scientific symposiums and a national conference on the subject, as well as to set up museums in the islands to showcase all the heritage of the Yemeni islands.

It urged State universities to support the opening of appropriate disciplines such as tourism departments, environmental studies, pharmaceutical production and the establishment of island research centres, stressing the need to activate scientific, research and applied efforts to benefit from plants, herbs, aromatic plants and natural sources with distinct vegetation of Yemen’s islands and coasts.

The Conference’s recommendations concluded by emphasizing the need to achieve the environmental balance that accompanies the implementation of urban, industrial and tourism development policies and to preserve the island environment in order to ensure biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

In the margins of the Conference, the Presidents of government and private universities and the Secretary-General of the Academic Accreditation Council, Dr. Mohamed Difullah, and the Secretary-General of the Conference, Dr. Mohamed Belghith, honored the participants in the Conference.

Source: Yemen News Agency

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