The new UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, is looking forward to achieving a successful "comprehensive agreement" to resolve the Yemeni crisis, according to diplomatic sources.
Russian ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin, in statements quoted by the Russian agency TASS, stated that Griffiths showed serious effort to achieve a settlement of the Yemeni crisis as soon as possible.
Dedushkin met with Griffiths in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Griffiths said he was determined to achieve a settlement as soon as possible and serve all concerned parties to reach a comprehensive agreement in the future.
According to the ambassador, Griffiths is expected to present later this month his preliminary findings and evaluation to a solution to the crisis and will present a road map on Yemen before the UN Security Council.
It is uncertain whether Yemeni parties will agree to his road map, given that the Houthis have rejected all previous international efforts.
The legitimate government and its supporting Yemeni forces will also not easily agree on it, said some observers. They explained that they will not agree to any deal with Houthis that is not based on the three references and lead to the disarmament of the Iran-backed group.
Dedushkin's remarks came on the eve of an international donors conference called for by the UN. The meeting is hoping to garner additional support, estimated at $2 billion, to cover deficiencies that are hindering the implementation of its humanitarian response plan in Yemen, which costs around $3 billion.
Foreign Minister Abdul Malik al-Makhlafi will head the delegation of the legitimate Yemeni government, which also includes the minister of local administration and the head of the Higher Relief Committee Abdel-Raqib Fatah
UN sources in Geneva told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference will be attended by high-level donors such as: Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Finance Ueli Maurer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development, International Cooperation and Climate of the Swedish Government Isabella Lovin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Marc Lowcock, and foreign ministers of several donor countries.
Griffiths left Sanaa on Saturday after a week of meeting with Houthi militia leaders as part of his bid to reach a peace solution, ending his first visit to the country since his appointment as UN Envoy. He will resume his meetings next week in Aden and Mukalla.
The United Nations, which launched its humanitarian response in Yemen earlier this year, hopes donors will be able to provide enough support to bridge the gap in the plan after Saudi Arabia and UAE pledged about $1 billion.
Guterres welcomed the UAE and Saudi Arabia's support for funding, as well as the commitment of both countries to encourage other donors in the region to provide an additional $500 million.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have stressed earlier that funds should only be used for humanitarian aid, while an additional $70 million will be provided bilaterally between the two countries to support the rehabilitation of Yemen's ports and infrastructure.
The UN hopes the funds will be allocated to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen in terms of reducing the risk of famine, maintaining necessary health, water and education services throughout the country.
