Distinguished guests, dear friends,
Welcome to this grand gathering.
It fills me with deep pride and reverence to stand among such an exceptional group of Yemen’s finest minds and talents — from within our beloved homeland and from across the Yemeni diaspora around the world.
This is not just a conference.
It is a meeting of intellect and conscience — a gathering of Yemenis for Yemen — united by knowledge, by purpose, and by hope.
Today, in the Conference of Yemeni Researchers and Experts, we come together to face the major challenges confronting our nation — challenges of development, of peace, and of rebuilding. Together, we aspire to lay new foundations for a future that leads from tragedy to hope, and from war to life.
I thank you all sincerely for being here — and I offer special gratitude to the researchers and experts who endured the hardships of travel to join us.
More than fifty Yemeni scholars have joined us from across Yemen and from countries around the world — the United States, Britain, Germany, China, India, Malaysia, Egypt, Turkey, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Australia, and Canada.
Men and women alike, they represent the finest of Yemen’s human capital — distinguished professionals and brilliant minds whose dedication and intellect command our deepest respect.
They have shared valuable and original research spanning diverse fields — health, education, energy, water, food, the economy, the environment, technology, agriculture, art, culture, security, defense, and politics.
Here in this hall, we are honored to be joined by more than two hundred experts and specialists, while millions more follow this conference with passion and anticipation through Belqees TV and social media platforms.
To each and every one of you — welcome again.

Dear friends,
We are gathered here today by a bond that transcends distance and difference — our shared love for Yemen.
This country, with its ancient soul and enduring spirit, deserves our affection, our devotion, our sacrifices, and our unwavering loyalty.
We are gathered here because we share a belief — that the war and chaos our nation endures are but passing clouds. They will pass. And Yemen, as always, will rise again.
This gathering itself is proof of that belief — proof that our homeland, though wounded, will heal from its pain and rise from its ruins.
For nations do not die. Peoples do not vanish.

My dear friends,
For more than a decade, every conference about Yemen has been dominated by politics and war.
It is understandable — yet deeply limiting.
Yes, politics matters.
Yes, war and peace are vital concerns.
But there are realities that reach beyond politics — realities that shape the daily lives of millions: hunger, poverty, disease, displacement, the collapse of education and healthcare, and the erosion of public trust.
What is unnatural — and unacceptable — is our collective neglect of these human dimensions.
Experience has shown us that when national dialogue is confined to political calculations, the result is paralysis.
We remain trapped in a cycle that deepens division, invites foreign intervention, and perpetuates conflict and decline.
Postponing the concerns of the economy, development, and public services will not restore the state — it only drives it further away.
For the state is not an abstract idea or a distant institution; it is the hospital that heals, the school that teaches, the salary that feeds a family, and the justice that protects the weak. It is the daily life of the people, and without it, the meaning of the state itself fades.
Yet today, Yemen faces a bitter reality:
No effective politics. No productive economy. No peace, no security, no functioning army, no proper healthcare, no education, no infrastructure.
Every sector is deteriorating.
In the areas under their control, the Houthi coup militias have abandoned their responsibilities and turned their weapons against society itself.
Meanwhile, in their regions, those who call themselves the “legitimate government” have too often abandoned accountability and failed to perform their duties.
And we must ask:
What is the meaning of a government that does not serve its people?
What is the meaning of a state that cannot provide electricity, water, salaries, or justice?
Regrettably, only two sectors seem to flourish today in Yemen: the war economy and political corruption.
Those who profit from this misery fall into two categories:
— those who believe their lineage entitles them to rule,
— and those who cloak their corruption in religion, region, or ideology, while selling their loyalty to foreign powers.
To them we say, in the voice of the Yemeni people:
Enough.
The Yemeni people have grown exhausted by your corruption, your tyranny, and your betrayal of the nation’s highest interests.
It is time for Yemen to reclaim its will, to rise from the rubble, and to speak with its own voice—not echo the voices of others.
Yemen is not weak.
Yemen is not anyone’s backyard.
Yemen is endowed with the qualities that place it among the greatest nations—not only in the region, but across the world. 
Our land occupies a uniquely strategic location, rich in natural resources: oil, gas, gold, minerals, fisheries, and abundant solar energy. 
We are blessed with diverse terrain and ecosystems, expansive coastlines, and rare, vibrant islands that are unmatched anywhere else on Earth.
But our most valuable asset is our people. The Yemeni people are free, generous, honest, and courageous. They are industrious, patient, and gifted—resilient in the face of adversity, and deeply rooted in a legacy of civilization and unwavering determination.

Dear friends,
The time has come to rebuild our state and our society on new foundations — ones based on partnership, not domination; on justice, not supremacy.
We must begin with reconciliation — reconciliation with ourselves and with each other. True reconciliation starts at the grassroots: in our towns and villages, in classrooms and workplaces, not just in conference halls and formal statements.
There will be no salvation for Yemen without:
•    Education that uplifts minds,
•    Healthcare that preserves dignity,
•    Infrastructure that breathes life into our cities and villages,
•    And a productive economy that ends dependence, hunger, and exploitation.
There will be no salvation without science and knowledge.
Knowledge is the gate to progress — the antidote to ignorance and the safeguard against extremism.
Societies where science and critical thinking do not flourish are fragile — easily manipulated, controlled, and ultimately destroyed. 
The marginalization of reason and the contempt for science have opened the door to sectarian, separatist, and extremist movements that feed on hatred, racism, and regionalism, and have torn down both the state and its institutions.
Knowledge liberates. It empowers us to choose wisely, to judge fairly, and to stand firm against ignorance, superstition, and the destructive ideologies that have devastated our lives and fragmented our homeland.
There is only one safe path to Yemen’s future:
a path that puts science and knowledge at the heart of both state and society.

Dear friends,
As we walk this path, we must first believe in ourselves — and in our great Yemeni people, who have always proven their ability to achieve profound transformation, no matter how vast the conspiracies or how long the night of suffering.
Yes, this journey begins with faith: faith in our capacity to change, to shape our destiny, and to build a homeland that lives in dignity and peace — a democratic, united, and just republic; a reconciled society; a vibrant economy; and systems of education, healthcare, and infrastructure worthy of a resilient people who can never be broken nor subdued.
Yes… a strong Yemen among the nations — sovereign, independent, and free from any guardianship, where no authority rises above the authority of the people.
And when they ask, “When will that day come?” — say to them: “Perhaps soon — very soon — God willing, and by the will of the Yemeni people.”
Honored guests,
We cannot speak of peace and development in Yemen without remembering Palestine.
For over seventy-five years, the Palestinian people have endured oppression, displacement, and the denial of freedom.
We have all witnessed the horrific genocide in Gaza — hospitals and schools destroyed, civilians massacred, and the world watching in silence.
Yet, the Palestinian people have taught us the meaning of endurance and dignity.
They have reminded us that occupation never lasts, and peoples are never defeated.
Freedom is never given — it is taken by those who believe in justice.
In conclusion,
I once again extend my warmest welcome to all of you and express my profound joy at this distinguished gathering — a conference that reflects a new and hopeful face of Yemen: the face of knowledge, reason, and purposeful action.
This event marks one of the most important steps on our shared journey to reclaim our homeland and restore the dignity of its people.
I wish to convey my heartfelt appreciation to all the remarkable participants who have joined us today — scholars, researchers, and visionaries who continue to raise Yemen’s name high and proud.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all researchers and participants for raising Yemen’s name high.
Special thanks to:
•    Dr. Marwan Al-Ghafouri, Chair of the Scientific Committee,
•    My dear colleague Ms. Musk Al-Junaid, Executive Director of the Tawakkol Karman Foundation,
•    The exceptional organizing team whose dedication has made this possible,
•    Mr. Ahmed Al-Zurqa, Director of Belqees TV, and the entire Belqees team for their remarkable live coverage,
•    Mr. Mohammed Al-Adimi and the Belqees Media team,
•    And the translation team who have enabled every word to reach hearts and minds in both Arabic and English.
To all of you — thank you for embodying Yemen’s finest spirit.
May this conference be a light that guides us forward —
from despair to determination,
from war to peace,
and from survival to life.
Thank you.