ABSTRACT

Seeing in the socialist camp, in the international working class and its vanguard parties, and in national liberation movements throughout the world the principal contemporary historical forces, the party seeks to strive for unity among these forces and to establish the strongest brotherly relations with all socialist countries. Successive Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) governments followed more or less progressive policies, but these remained squarely within the framework of Arab nationalism and solidarity, and strict nonalignment in international affairs. The YAR garrisoned Kamaran Island, offshore from its port of Salif but claimed by the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) because it had been occupied by Britain and administered by the governor of Aden under the colonial regime. Localized clashes escalated into war between the regular armed forces of the YAR and the PDRY in February 1979. South Yemen nevertheless intensified its efforts to subvert the YAR regime, as was made publicly clear in the summer of 1973.