Page 16 - What Kind of Yemen ?

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Yemen has never been far from Turkey. Even when the Ottoman
Empire collapsed, Yemen was close enough to express its loyalty to
Istanbul. Despite their long and common history, Yemen and Turkey
are today two separate countries. They have different political experi-

ences and state structures. The problems they face and the solutions
they produce are also therefore very different from one another. What
is not different is the two people's feelings for one another: Love and
affection. These feelings of course stem from both countries being Mus-
lim.
Yemen occupies a privileged position in Islamic territory. Yemen
is like a small laboratory; almost all the problems facing Islamic coun-

tries can be found there. So what happens in Yemen is of close concern
to Turkey.
Yemen experienced its share of colonialism, it has had an experi-
ence of communism, and communist elements are still active. Arab
socialists, nationalists, racists and groups with a singularly fanatical
conception of Islam seem to be prevailing in the country's politics. Of

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