UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths sent on Tuesday his deputy Maeen Sharim to the Omani capital, Muscat, to hold meetings with a Houthi delegation and propose new ideas on the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, including the redeployment of forces in Hodeidah and its ports, Yemeni political sources said.
The UN move came as the legitimate Yemeni government renewed its rejection to resume any negotiations with the Iran-backed Houthi militias before the implementation of the Stockholm deal that was struck between the two sides near the Swedish capital last December.
“There is no room to talk about any future consultation steps without the full implementation of the Stockholm Agreement,” Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Hadhrami said on Tuesday following talks with the US Charge d'Affaires in Yemen, Junaid Munir.
The Yemeni government is particularly attached to implementing the first phase of the agreement, which would see a redeployment in Hodeidah and its ports in a step that should help place the province and its ports under the control of the legitimate authorities.
The Saba news agency reported that Hadhrami reiterated on Tuesday the keenness of his government to support the UN efforts to achieve peace in line with the three terms of reference; the GCC initiative, the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council Resolution 2216.
"The key to a comprehensive and sustainable solution is the implementation of what has been agreed upon in Sweden. The implementation of the Hodeidah Agreement starting from the first stage, as agreed upon through the Coordinating Committee for Redeployment, is the most appropriate way forward," Hadhrami said.
During the meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires, the Yemeni deputy FM said: "The implementation of the second phase depends on the implementation of the provisions of the Hodeidah agreement regarding the determination of the city's local authority, both the security and administrative (staff)."
For his part, the US diplomat reiterated his country's support for the Yemeni government and its keenness to achieve a lasting peace, end the suffering of the Yemeni people and put an end to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Meanwhile, Houthi sources said that the so-called head of the national negotiating delegation Mohammed Abdulsalam met with Sharim in the Omani capital on Tuesday.
Yemeni observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sharim’s presence in Muscat aims to propose new ideas on Hodeidah’s security forces, local authority and revenues, which are hindering the implementation of the Stockholm deal.
