Yemeni Houthi militia expressed relief towards Russia's use of the veto in the United Nations Security Council, which prevented a British draft resolution calling for condemnation of Iran's policy in the war-torn country.
Iran-allied Houthis considered the veto a major victory on their behalf and the beginning of what they described as the decline of American hegemony over the "Yemeni file."
The veto came just as new UN Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths resuming his post and undertaking serious effort to achieve peace in Yemen, which include meetings with Houthi officials and General People's Congress leaders loyal to the late ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On that note, the UN Security Council decided to extend the work of the sanctions committee for another year.
According to official sources a number of General People's Congress (GPC) leaders in Sanaa, based in the Houthi-run capital, met with UN diplomat Nicola Davies. Sources said that the leaders welcomed the appointment of Griffiths and expressed their thanks for the efforts made by his predecessor Ismail Ould Sheikh.
Overall, GPC leading figures have expressed optimism that the appointment of Griffiths will greatly contribute to the process of political settlement.
They renewed their call to the United Nations and the Security Council to lift sanctions imposed on Saleh’s son, Ahmed Ali Saleh. They also assured their keenness to achieve comprehensive and just peace and to create conditions ensuring the success of any future consultations sponsored by the United Nations.
“The General People's Congress (GPC) is a key component of the future of political action in Yemen” and “the United Nations is keen to resume negotiations, which will end war and bring about peace,” the party’s official website said.
Observers believe that this meeting between Saleh loyalists, confirms the UN's rejection of the so-called political Houthis opposition representation. Over and over again, it proved seeking full control over party’s decisions and positions on the negotiations.
Houthis killed Saleh and confiscated his headquarters and funds.
A delegation from Griffiths' office also met with officials of the internationally-recognized legitimate government based in Aden a few days ago.
At a time when activists loyal to the former Yemeni president expressed their disappointment with the recent Security Council resolution, which kept the sanctions imposed on his eldest son Ahmed Ali Saleh, Houthis considered the Russian veto a goal-oriented victory for not condemning Iran, their ally and the main supplier of weapons and ballistic missiles.
Sources close to Saleh's son, who has been living in the United Arab Emirates since the imposition of UN sanctions, said he intends to appear in his first televised speech to explain his position on recent developments, including the killing of his father by the Houthis.
