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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Washington - Muath Alamri

Lenderking Urges Yemenis to ‘Seize the Moment’

(L-R) US special envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking, German FM Heiko Maas and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on April 12, 2021. (AFP)

United States envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking urged the warring parties to “seize the moment” and work together to reach a negotiated solution to their conflict.

In a video released by the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, he said: “People are suffering. We must work together.”

“We need all parties to commit seriously and negotiate in good faith” to reach a political solution, he added.

Lenderking was in Germany for a meeting with the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Kuwait, Germany, Sweden and the European Union.

He said he was “hopeful that with the recent commitments from the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to reach a ceasefire and initiate political talks” to make progress towards peace, including stopping the offensive waged by the Iran-backed Houthi militias, in Marib.

Lenderking is expected to arrive in the Gulf on Wednesday on his fourth tour of the region since his appointment earlier this year.

Discussions in Europe focused on the need to reach a permanent solution to the war, resume political talks and immediately end the Marib offensive.

Lenderking also met with UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths.

The US envoy will discuss during his Gulf tour international efforts to reach peace and address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

It is unclear if he will meet with any Houthi officials.

Separately, several Congressmen on Tuesday addressed a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to intensify efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

They hailed Saudi Arabia’s positive role in allowing four fuel ships to dock in Hodeidah port.

“We acknowledge the Saudi and Yemeni governments' decision on March 25 to let four fuel ships dock at Hodeidah, which indicates that the administration's engagement is bearing fruit. The Saudi government's recent pledge to send fuel products to the Yemeni government is another positive development,” they said.

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