Sanaa government tells UN it is ready for peace, worst-case scenario
The head of Yemen's Intelligence and Reconnaissance Authority confirms Sanaa's readiness to carry through with the peace process while remaining ready to deal with worst-case scenarios.
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An Ansar Allah fighter who's right arm was amputated, positions himself at the frontline in Yemen's Marib province, November 2, 2021 (Military media)
The head of Yemen's Intelligence and Reconnaissance Authority, Major General Abdullah Yahya Al-Hakim, confirmed the readiness of Sanaa's political and military leadership to achieve peace in the country, which ensures Yemen's territorial integrity and a just and honorable peace that preserves Yemen's unity, independence, and dignity.
Al-Hakim held a meeting with the UN Special Envoy’s Military Advisor Brigadier General Antony Hayward on Sunday where the two discussed pathways to establish peace, as well as issues regarding the re-establishment of a ceasefire.
The Yemeni official stressed that the opposite side is obstructing the peace process as it blocks practical steps meant to implement it. He further noted that Sanaa is closely monitoring political and diplomatic actions taken by the other side, including the ongoing blockade on Yemen, which has led to starvation in the country.
The General reaffirmed Sanaa's readiness to defend itself in case the peace process fails, as he pointed to activities of the mercenaries repositioning on the eastern and southern fronts.
He further underlined the importance of obligating the other parties to efface the chaos they perpetrated in the southern coastal region of Yemen, specifically in Aden. Al-Hakim also reiterated the necessity of establishing a ceasefire, opening humanitarian corridors, and achieving a complete prisoner swap between the warring sides.
On his part, Hayward pointed to the importance of achieving peace and working toward finding solutions for the issues that are delaying a possible peace deal.
The UN advisor praised the recent prisoner exchange deals, as he revealed that meetings would be arranged to release the rest of the prisoners.
On Wednesday, the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said he made "positive engagements with the authorities in Sanaa," during his visit to Yemen.
Gundberg said, "I am encouraged by what I’ve heard and indeed by the constructive engagement by all sides at this critical time,” stressing that "after a year of unprecedented calm in Yemen, the parties need to take the next bold steps toward ending the conflict."
