UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his “full confidence” in UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths after the envoy was accused by Yemen President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi of committing violations that threaten the political solution.
Griffiths has not commented on Hadi’s letter, which he had delivered to the UN chief.
“In his letter to President Hadi the secretary-general says that the United Nations commitment to the Stockholm agreement stems first and foremost from our deep desire to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and assist in addressing the humanitarian crisis which continues to beset Yemen,” said Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“He assured President Hadi that his special envoy, Griffiths, will redouble efforts to support the parties on delivering on the commitment made in Stockholm and do so in a manner which is balanced and fully supportive of achieving a peaceful and lasting political solution to this conflict,” he added.
In his letter, Hadi said: “We can no longer accept the ongoing violations committed by the UN envoy.”
He made his stance after a briefing by Griffiths to the UN Security Council on May 15, which the president deemed as an example of the flagrant violation of the mandate granted to the envoy.
“Griffiths insists on dealing with Houthi (militias) as a de-facto government, and as an equivalent to the legitimate government,” he added, accusing the envoy of legitimizing the Iran-backed militants.
He also accused Griffiths of sidestepping Security Council Resolution 2216.
The letter stated that Griffiths has failed to properly oversee the Stockholm agreement struck last year for a ceasefire and withdrawal plan for the port city of Hodeidah, and has not dealt with issues surrounding detainees and hostages.
“It is clear the envoy has a weak understanding of the nature of Yemen’s ongoing conflict, especially the ideological, intellectual, and political elements of the Houthi militias and their fundamental rejection of the principles of democracy and the peaceful rotation of power,” it added.
