NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright, President Kenneth Wollack and Regional Director Leslie Campbell issued the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Eryani, a man we considered a true patriot of Yemen, a visionary leader and a great friend of the National Democratic Institute and its staff. Dr. Al-Eryani’s commitment to democratic principles and his efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the country he loved will be part of his extraordinary legacy.

“As prime minister and national party leader, he excelled at transcending divides and building bridges among people of all backgrounds. His leadership as a convener of the Congress of Democrats in the Islamic World held in Istanbul in 2003 and his role in drafting the Platform for Democratic Governance in the Arab World are part of his record as a champion of democratic ideals. As a longtime partner to NDI, Dr. Al-Eryani’s participation in election missions and other initiatives helped cement his global reputation as a fair-minded reformer dedicated to strengthening the bonds between citizens and their governments.

“Over his years of service to the Yemeni people, and through his friendship with our Institute, which dates back to 1993, we at NDI benefited greatly from his wisdom and counsel. His deep insights into Yemeni and global politics, along with his optimism and trademark sense of humor, will be missed. On behalf of NDI and its staff, please accept our condolences and deepest sympathies to your family at this difficult time.”