United Nations, Sha'ban 27, 1433, Jul 17, 2012, SPA - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the launch of a preparatory process for a national dialogue in Yemen set for November. “The secretary-general welcomes the official launch of the preparatory process for the National Dialogue Conference in Yemen,” Ban’s office said in a statement. “In this regard, he notes the appointment by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi of a representative preparatory committee tasked to prepare the ground for the conference.” “He commends President Hadi, as well as the government and people of Yemen, for their determination to keep the transition process on track,” the statement from Ban’s office said. “The National Dialogue will be an opportunity for all actors in Yemen to collectively establish a new social contract and achieve national reconciliation.” --SPA 14:20 LOCAL TIME 11:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1016126