Saudi Arabia: War in Yemen must end through negotiations

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jan 22:17

The UN special envoy to Yemen urged the parties to practice maximum restraint as the opportunity to end the eight-year war lies within grasp.

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Yemen Hans Grundberg (L) and Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud confirmed on Wednesday that his country needs to find a way to restore the armistice in Yemen and turn it into a permanent ceasefire.

"We are making progress in Yemen, but there are still more things to do," Bin Farhan said in a meeting with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in the Swiss city of Davos.

Bin Farhan also stressed in the meeting, which discussed peace efforts in Yemen and efforts to reduce escalation, that "the war in Yemen must end through negotiations."

On his part, the UN envoy's office expressed via Twitter an appreciation for "Saudi Arabia's role in supporting the current efforts aimed at de-escalation and working toward a comprehensive Yemeni-Yemeni political settlement under the auspices of the United Nations."

"What we have seen in the last 9 months represents a significant development in the right direction," Grundberg added.

In a meeting with @FaisalbinFarhan in Davos, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg expressed appreciation for #KSA’s role in supporting efforts to maintain current military de-escalation and work towards an inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni political settlement under UN auspices. pic.twitter.com/K9xcuHEiTb
— @OSE_Yemen (@OSE_Yemen) January 18, 2023

A few days ago, Grundberg called on "the Yemeni parties to maintain restraint and avoid escalation," stressing that "we are witnessing what may change the course of the conflict that has been going on for 8 years, and we stress the importance of taking advantage of it."

Yemeni writer and journalist Ali Dhafer told Al Mayadeen earlier today that "a Saudi delegation accompanied the Omani delegation to Sanaa for the third time," describing the meeting as positive and stressing that Saudi Arabia exhibited openness to the request to resolve the issue of salaries and open the airport and ports.

It is noteworthy that Sanaa announced last October that negotiations to extend the UN armistice in Yemen had reached a dead end after Saudi Arabia refused to pay the salaries of public servants from the revenues of oil and gas produced from the Yemeni governorates, in addition to ending the war acts and lifting the blockade on the country.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Sanaa Government for Defense and Security Affairs Jalal Al-Rowaishan stressed last December that "there cannot be a political solution while the country is under aggression, siege, and occupation."

"The negotiation to lift the siege and end the aggression and occupation is between Sanaa and the countries of aggression, and the political solution is then between the Yemenis."