Yemeni Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani said UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths’ new initiative on Hodeidah is met by intransigence by Houthi militias, stressing that Houthis' bet on time factor is a futile.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during his visit to Abu Dhabi, Yamani indicated that the Envoy's initiative is crystal clear and consists of three main points.
"The first is the full withdrawal of Houthis from Hodeidah and handing over their control over the city to the Yemeni Ministry of Interior. The second point is ensuring the control of the legitimate government's Central Bank over the financial resources of the Hodeidah Port, while the third point is to allow UN supervisors access to help improve the performance of ports and ensure enforcement of Article 14 of UNSC Resolution No 2216 on banning the supply of arms,” he was quoted by WAM.
"We are extending our hand to the UN Special Envoy who has had enough time to contact the Houthis," he added.
Yamani said he was glad with his first visit to the UAE, describing it as a “main partner of the Saudi-led Coalition in support of legitimacy in Yemen."
He asserted that his country's unbreakable relations with the UAE are deeply rooted in history and sharing common destiny.
"We are today fighting together for the sake of legitimacy and for thwarting the expansionist schemes in the region,” he noted.
On the efforts of the UN Envoy, the Yemeni minister said the government had already given its response to his initiative on Hodeidah and affirmed that its success is contingent on the full and unconditional withdrawal of the Houthis from Hodeidah and on giving up all their weapons. He called on the international community to pressure the rebels into fully accepting the initiative.
''We always back efforts aimed at bringing peace to Yemen and we are also keen on supporting the UN Special Envoy's peace efforts, but the Houthi militia is standing against all these initiatives,'' confirmed Minister Yamani.
The Minister went on to say that the legitimacy is extending an olive branch, however, Houthis are buying time to reinforce their military capabilities. He noted that during the time given to the UN Special Envoy to assume his mediating role, Houthi militia was building reinforcements in the Hodeidah, taking civilians as human shields, recruiting children and digging trenches, which destroyed the water and power networks, which created a humanitarian crisis and a cholera outbreak.
''The military operation, which liberated the Hodeidah airport, confirmed to the world that the task to liberate Hodeidah is not difficult, but we have decided to opt for peace and support the UN Special Envoy's peace efforts,'' he asserted.
Earlier, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani in Abu Dhabi.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed bilateral relations and recent developments to the situation in Yemen, as well as their humanitarian and relief efforts to assist the Yemeni people and return stability to the country.
Yamani also commended the efforts of UAE on the humanitarian and relief level to send assistance convoys to the Yemeni people.
