Keith Vaz Returns to Aden

Born in Aden on 26th November 1956, Mr. Keith Vaz is the only British MP to have been born in Yemen, spending the first 9 years of his life in Aden. His mother taught at Aden College and Aden Airways, and his father worked in industry.

After leaving Yemen in 1965 he was educated at Cambridge University, and became a lawyer. When he was elected to Parliament, he was the youngest Labor MP. The new Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has appointed him as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General, the highest ranking law officer.

In March 1998 Mr Vaz returned to Yemen after 33 years, to visit the country of his birth.

"I am leading a delegation of a number of important British companies with an interest in tourism, on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. The delegation hopes to encourage trade and tourism between Britain and Yemen.

We consider it essential that Yemen and Britain should act in partnership, in order to promote trade and tourism, but it must be a partnership of equals. I was delighted to meet a number of ministers and was especially pleased to have an audience with the President, who made such a successful visit to Britain last year. I told the President that British business establishments want to do business with Yemen. This will create prosperity within our two countries, and also jobs. I have been very pleased to meet a number of talented Yemeni businessmen, all have an interest in supporting this cause.

I spent some of the happiest days of my life in Aden. I remember it fondly. I can remember the big ships coming into Aden port, which I hope to see developed again into one of the finest ports in the world. I remember my school in Steamer Point, and the flat where we lived in Maalla. Aden was able to bring together so many cultures and people. I welcome the reunification of Yemen, and am very pleased to see so much development in the city. There have certainly been changes since I was last here, but they have all been changes for the better.

I was honored to have been elected Chairman of the British Yemen Parliamentary Group, Shortly before the President's visit to Britain. The group exists to foster understanding between our two nations, and we intend to bring to the attention of the new government, the potential of this great nation. I want Yemeni people to know that they have a friend in the British Parliament; not just any friend, but one of their own. Yemen as a nation has a very bright future ahead of it, and I shall do all I can to assist".

Mr. Keith Vaz, arrived in Sana’a again in October 2000. He was visiting Yemen at the invitation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, following the President’s recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Vaz signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on the United Kingdom’s $8 million aid program to support economic reform in Yemen.

Mr. Vaz also discussed with the Yemeni officials the question of the 10 British prisoners in Aden and the possibility of releasing them. These 10 Britons were tried by a Yemeni court in the beginning of 1999 as they were charged of forming a gang to carry on terrorist acts. Among the prisoners is the son of Mustafa Abu Al-Hamza, Mohammed, who threatened to avenge Abu Al-Hasan Al-Mihdar, the former leader of the so-called Aden-Abyan Islamic Army which kidnapped a group of tourists in December 1998. The confrontation between Al-Mihdar’s men and police led to the murder of four tourists including two Britons. Later, Al-Mihdar was sentenced to death.