Efforts exerted by United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to persuade the Iran-backed Houthi militias to attend a new round of consultations stumbled at their ongoing intransigence, informed sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Griffiths had held talks with Houthi officials in the capital as part of preparations to hold a new round of talks in Geneva. The Houthis failed to attend the last round, held on September 6, which ultimately doomed them to failure.
The sources said that the militias demanded that the legitimate forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, halt their operation in the Hodeidah province and reopen Sanaa airport to commercial flights. These were listed as conditions for their return to consultations.
Another condition was their demand that the UN provide guarantees to ensure the safe travel of their negotiations delegation, along with dozens of wounded militants, outside of Yemen. They stressed that the aircraft must not be subject to inspection.
These demands, however, have been interpreted as attempts to prolong the war.
The sources revealed that Griffiths had held talks in Sanaa with Houthi government foreign minister Hisham Sharaf, members of the negotiations delegation, head of the militias’ so-called ruling council Mahdi Mshat and the Houthi-appointed head of the General People’s Congress Sadiq Amin Abou Rass.
Abou Rass was appointed as head of the GPC after the Houthis assassinated party leader and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in December.
The sources revealed that the Houthis had ordered the GPC leaderships to stress the militants’ demands to Griffiths in their attempt to obstruct his mission.
The envoy said during his meeting with Houthi officials that he still believes that efforts can still be exerted to reach reconciliation and build trust between the militias and legitimate forces, said Houthi sources.
The trust-building talks focus on a prisoner exchange, delivery of humanitarian aid, reopening Sanaa airport and paying government employee salaries.
Furthermore, the Houthis sought during Griffiths’ visit to spark a severe fuel crisis in Sanaa in order to blame it on the Hodeidah operation.
Observers have expressed their doubts over the Houthis’ seriousness in reaching reconciliation with the legitimate forces and in line with international resolutions, especially given that they were still mobilizing recruits to join their war effort.
