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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, December 4, 1979
Page 7
May God continue to bless you and give you the guidance to do whatÂ
ever must be done, and also to continue to deliver the good news of
the Kingdom Jesus Christ will soon establish over the nations of the
world. Our prayers are with you and the Work!
--Mr. & Mrs. David A. Byers (Liberty, MO)
ON THE WORLD SCENE
RUSSIA PLANS ADEN "CUBA": While American eyes are riveted on the hostage
standoff in Iran, the Soviet Union is moving steadily to secure a solid
foothold in the Middle East.
Thwarted before in the region, the relentless Soviets feel they've got
the right partner this time: South Yemen, the former British seagate
protectorate of Aden, located at the southwestern tip of the Arabian
peninsula, commanding the narrow Bab el Mandeb entrance into the Red Sea.
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South Yemen has been a Russian client state for the past
few years, and is the locale where worldwide terrorists
of all stripes are trained, thanks to on-site Cuban and
East German commanders. Now the Soviets aim to use
South Yemen, whose northern borders merge across the
sand into Saudi Arabia, for more sinister purposes.
Soviet aims in this still backward corner of Arabia
have been revealed by secret clauses in the 20-year
treaty of friendship just concluded with South Yemen,
and by Soviet actions in this former British colony.
Unpublished sections of the friendship treaty provide for up to 18,000
Russian troops to be stationed in South Yemen, and also provide for closer
Soviet control of Yemen ministries and institutions.
Russian weapons including Mig-23 fighters, have recently been shipped to
South Yemen. Russia is also expected to increase its naval presence
there. Submarine pens are being built for between eight and 12 boats.
Opponents of the marxist government in South Yemen warn that the treaty
of friendship and cooperation between it and Moscow could threaten Middle
East oil routes.
The warning is sounded by Abdel Qawi Mackawee, a former prime minister who
now heads a group of dissidents calling itself the United National Front
of South Yemen. Mackawee and his associates warn that a Soviet presence
in Aden could threaten international maritime routes, including oil
shipped to Europe from the Gulf region.
Mackawee says Moscow is determined to strengthen its foothold in the
region. Proof, he says, is that Moscow earlier concluded a similar
friendship and cooperation treaty with Ethiopia, which faces South Yemen
across the sea.
Early this year, South Yemen (population 1.5 million) attacked neighboring
North Yemen. The latter is important mainly for the fact that it supplies
vital "guest workers" to manpower-short Saudi Arabia. A Communist take-