Sanaa delegation visit to Riyadh came through Oman mediation: Official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
16 Sep 2023 00:42

The Minister of Information in the Sanaa government tells Al Mayadeen that the visit to Riyadh is a gesture of goodwill by Sanaa.

The Minister of Information in the Sanaa government, Daifallah al-Shami (Yemeni media)

The Minister of Information in the Sanaa government, Daifallah al-Shami, confirmed on Friday to Al Mayadeen that the Sanaa delegation's visit to Riyadh was not due to a Saudi invitation, but rather through Omani mediation.

Al-Shami indicated that the visit to Riyadh is a gesture of goodwill by Sanaa.

He pointed out that the Saudis were informed before the delegation's visit to Riyadh that this round of negotiations, which was held in Muscat, could be the last.

Al-Shami revealed that the circumstances surrounding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s visit to Muscat indicate that he was the one who asked Oman to take the initiative regarding the Sanaa delegation's visit to Riyadh.

The Yemeni Minister pointed out that Saudi Arabia is trying to present itself as a mediator in the Yemen war, but this will not succeed, because Riyadh is a party to the aggression.

He underlined that they will not accept skipping the humanitarian issues in the Riyadh negotiations and discussing politics first instead, noting that the file of ending the war on Yemen lies in the hands of Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that it sent an invitation to a delegation from Sanaa to complete meetings and discussions based on the Saudi initiative announced in March 2021, which includes discussions regarding a ceasefire.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Omani delegation, accompanied by the Sanaa delegation, left Sanaa International Airport for Riyadh yesterday.

Member of the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah, Ali al-Qahoum, said the success of mediation and Omani efforts to achieve peace in Yemen is not unlikely.

The head of the Sanaa negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdul Salam, confirmed on Thursday that the current negotiations round with Saudi Arabia comes within the framework of the discussions held by the national delegation with the Saudi side.

Abdul Salam affirmed that the Sanaa negotiating delegation is working to obtain the just rights of the Yemeni people and end the state of instability.

On his part, the head of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Mahdi al-Mashat, said the national delegation will complete in Riyadh the consultations that took place in Sanaa and Muscat, the last of which was in the holy month of Ramadan.