Yemen peace talks wind up in Kuwait – Ceasefire violations decreasing

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KUWAIT CITY, April 22, (Agencies): The delegations of the Yemeni government, General People’s Congress and Ansarullah movement concluded UNbacked peace consultations in Kuwait on Friday. On the second day of their peace consultations, the delegation discussed several issues, primarily implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No 2216, and a possible framework for an organized peaceful process in Yemen based on the GCC Initiative and the outcome of the Yemeni National Dialogue.

UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmad described the peace negotiations between Yemeni warring parties as “constructive and progressive” in ending the country’s crisis. Speaking at a news conference after concluding the peace negotiations, the envoy said in a statement that the proposed work plan forms a firm structure for a new political path which will help Yemenis restore stability and live in peace. He called on all disputed parties to concede so as to reach a positive and practical solution to the crisis. He said that Yemen is going through a “critical phase,” appealing to all Yemenis to take into consideration the deterioration of humanitarian situation from which the country is suffering. He added that “we are closer than ever to peace,” affirming that achieving security and stability in Yemen is a UN priority.

He urged all participants to discard differences and put the country’s interest ahead of anything else. The envoy thanked the State of Kuwait, His Highness the Amir, the government and people for their efforts exerted to host the negotiations. He also expressed his gratitude to the international community for its permanent support and effective follow-up of the Yemen’s dossier, referring to the role of media in covering what is happening in Yemen during this “sensitive phase.” He stressed that the UN would work on intensifying its efforts in order to achieve peace in that Arab country.

The UN-brokered peace talks resumed its session today to discuss the proposed items on the agenda, with the aim of reaching a consensus so as to resolve the crisis. Cheikh Ahmad dismissed reports that peace consultations between Yemeni disputed parties would be held in another country. The UN envoy said “the parties will continue their talks in Kuwait until reaching a tangible solution to the country’s crisis.”

In a reply to a question on the approval of the delegations of Ansar Allah and the General People’s Congress on the five items of agenda of negotiations, he said: “we are committed, from the beginning, that the talks are held in line with the UN Security Council resolution 2216,” adding that there is a program of action, a roadmap and the agenda which are similar to these items to reach a comprehensive solution to the crisis. Regarding pledges on the ceasefire, he noted that the ceasefire went into effect on April 10 and “we work on consolidating it,” despite difficulties during wars.

In spite of challenges on ground, the parties commitment level to the ceasefire up to 80 percent. He indicated that positive atmospheres dominated today’s negotiations during which some points were discussed on consolidating the ceasefire.

He said there was a decline in violence in Yemen and this reassures everyone, especially Yemenis, adding that “there are significant gaps in the ceasefire that would be addressed.” The envoy pointed out that the most prominent challenge facing them is how to “activate the truce committees” so as to halt hostilities completely.

He said he proposed deployment of local observers in Yemen to follow up consolidating the ceasefire on ground, urging all parties to promote tolerance for achieving peace. He referred that the negotiations receive an international support, especially from the UN Security Council which is expected to issue a resolution in this regard.

The UN-brokered peace talks resumed its session today and discussed some items of the agenda, with the aim of reaching a consensus to resolve the crisis. Violations of a UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen are decreasing as monitors spread out around the war-ravaged country, the Saudi-led coalition said on Friday as peace talks resumed in Kuwait. The joint committees of rebel and loyalist army representatives are in the field and “are mostly operating”, supervised by Saudi members of the coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed Assiri told AFP.

“Our observations tell us that day by day the number of violations keeps decreasing,” he said. The ceasefire began on April 11 to pave the way for the talks aimed at ending 13 months of fighting between Iranbacked Houthi rebels, their allies loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and government forces backed by air strikes and other support from the Saudi-led Arab alliance. The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in September 2014 and then moved on to other areas. Peace negotiations had been due to start last Monday, but rebel delegates stayed away in protest at alleged Saudi violations of the truce. They arrived in Kuwait late on Thursday to begin the talks following UN assurances that the ceasefire would be respected.

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