Ali Salim al-Beidh vs Leopold Figl

Ali Salim al-Beidh became Vice President of South Yemen after the 1986 civil war, serving under President Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas. He was a key figure in the ruling Yemeni Socialist Party.

Al-Beidh opposed the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, fearing marginalization of southern interests. He became a leading voice for southern separatism.

Ali Salim al-Beidh declared the secession of South Yemen in May 1994, leading to a brief civil war. Northern forces defeated the southern army, and al-Beidh fled into exile in Oman.

Leopold Figl became the first Chancellor of the Second Austrian Republic after the November 1945 elections, leading a grand coalition government. He oversaw the reconstruction of Austria after World War II, including economic recovery and political stabilization.

Under Figl's chancellorship, Austria participated in the Marshall Plan, receiving significant US economic aid. This aid was crucial for rebuilding infrastructure, stabilizing the currency, and laying the foundation for Austria's post-war economic growth.

Leopold Figl, as Federal Chancellor, signed the Austrian State Treaty on May 15, 1955, at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna. The treaty restored Austria's sovereignty and ended the Allied occupation, with Austria pledging permanent neutrality.

Figl traveled to Moscow in April 1955 to negotiate with the Soviet Union. The resulting Moscow Memorandum secured Soviet agreement to the State Treaty in exchange for Austria's declaration of permanent neutrality, modeled on Switzerland.