Yemen talks 'moving forward towards peace', UN envoy reports

Last night, both the Government of Yemen's delegation and the delegation of Ansarullah and the General People's Congress submitted a comprehensive paper that included a proposal on the political and security tracks including withdrawals, handover of heavy weapons to the State, and the issue of prisoners and detainees.

“Both papers included full commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015), other relevant Security Council resolutions, the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] initiative and the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue. This is an encouraging start that will set the ground for a negotiated solution,” said the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

He indicated that the UN is currently working with the parties to develop a general strategic framework that includes “many elements of the proposals from the two delegations and builds upon the common denominators and provides a comprehensive and holistic mechanism for addressing the key issues.”

The UN envoy noted that the Government of Yemen submitted a letter to the UN delegation regarding the violations to the cessation of hostilities—which began on 10 April—and the increase in civilian casualties. The beginning of discussions reportedly highlighted the need to support the mechanisms of enforcing the cessation of hostilities.

“Peace in Yemen will only happen through a political solution. The talks in Kuwait should provide the general framework for this solution,”  Cheikh Ahmed reiterated.

“We have positive signs of a political understanding but we haven't overcome all obstacles yet. A war that lasted for over a year can't be resolved in one day. Any rushed solution will be fragile and short-lived,” he stressed, adding a comprehensive solution must be found, one that covers all security, political, humanitarian and economic aspects.

UN Photo/Elma Ocik