Retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert, chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee tasked with observing and supporting the implementation of Stockholm's Agreement about Hodeidah, has arrived in Yemen accompanied by six of his aides.
Cammaert will chair the committee with the participation of representatives of the Yemeni government and Houthis.
Prior to the General’s arrival to the temporary capital Aden, Yemeni government forces and the coalition supporting them accused Houthis of violating the cease fire.
A UN official source explained that the redeployment committee will determine during its first meeting its functions and divisions, without elaborating on the details.
The official, who preferred to remain unnamed, confirmed that Cammaert will play a leading role in solving any disputes between members of the committee.
However, Cammaert has not determined a clear agenda or set a date for the committee’s meeting which is crucial given that time is running out, especially since Houthis are expected to withdraw from Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Issa ports after January 3, 2019, and the 30 days determined by the UN to implement the Stockholm's Agreement.
Governor of Hodediah al-Hassan Taher received Cammaert and his accompanying delegation at Aden International airport.
Taher welcomed the head of the UN committee, stressing the keenness of the legitimate government represented by President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to achieve a lasting and just peace for all the people of Yemen, according to Saba News agency.
The governor called on the international community to exert more pressure on the coup to abide by peace and end “immoral practices towards citizens.”
Cammaert will travel to Hodeidah where he will oversee the truce and troop withdrawal from Hodeidah city and three ports. Cammaert’s team will not be uniformed or armed, the UN has said, but it will provide support for the management and inspections at the ports and strengthen UN presence.
A government source in Aden told Asharq Al-Awsat that General Cammaert met with government officials, and is expected to continue to Sanaa where he will meet Houthi officials
On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterich said on Friday he hoped international observers led by Cammaert would deploy in Hodeidah as soon as possible.
“At the Secretary-General's instructions, we, the UN — all its parts — has moved ahead very quickly...We'll be deploying additional personnel in the coming days as we scale up to support and facilitate the implementation of the agreement that was agreed to in Stockholm, and we of course urge all the parties to abide by the commitments made in Stockholm,” Sec-Gen spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Dujarric added that the teams would be comprised of a small number of people, some of whom would be redeployed from existing observing commissions.
The Arab Coalition to support legitimacy said in a statement that Houthis violated the Sweden deal on a ceasefire in Hodeidah, 14 times in 24 hours.
The Houthi breaches included attacks with different kinds of arms in several areas including Ad Durayhimi, At Tuhayat, al-Hali and other areas, according to the coalition.
The Coalition also expressed its support for the Yemeni army’s commitment to the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Yemeni Government welcomed UN Security Council's Resolution 2451 which reaffirmed the international community's commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen.
It stressed the need to reach a comprehensive political solution based on the three references.
The government also welcomed the call to abide by Stockholm Agreement according to the timetables set for it, including the withdrawal of al-Houthi militias from Hodeidah and its port as well as from ports of Salif and Ras Issa, in addition to the implementation of the mechanism of the prisoner exchange agreement and the declaration of understandings in the city of Taiz.
Kuwait’s UN ambassador, Mansour al-Otaibi welcomed the UN resolution, which he said demonstrated the “unity of the Security Council” and reflected its awareness of the importance of the current phase in Yemen where a real opportunity to achieve peace is available.
He voiced Kuwait’s support for the efforts of UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to hold a new round of peace consultations in January and reaching a political solution based on the three references.
Saudi Arabia also welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution, saying it affirms the efforts of Saudi diplomacy and its direct impact on the decisions of the international community.
The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom's delegation to the United Nations, Khalid Manzlawi, said in a press statement that the resolution supports the agreements of Sweden consultations, and emphasizes the implementation of Resolution 2216 which is committed to the three reference points of political solution in Yemen.
On Friday, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, stated that the unified Security Council vote on Yemen resolution sends strong message and forms important step towards lasting political solution. The Council's endorsement of the Stockholm Agreement will help ensure the ceasefire and redeployment are upheld, he added.
“The UAE strongly supports this resolution and grateful for the work of the UK, USA, Kuwait & other Council members who aided in its unanimous adoption. We look forward to working with Gen. Cammaert, and the UN to implement the resolution,” Gargash said in a tweet.
