UN Envoy Commends Positive Spirit in Yemen Peace Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, commended the positive spirit the two parties are demonstrating at talks underway in Sweden in the pursuit of peace in Yemen.
“The two parties are engaged in a serious and constructive way in discussing the details of confidence-building measures, the reduction of violence, and the framework for negotiations,” Griffiths said on Sunday, the National reported.
He added, “We hope we will achieve progress during this round of consultations”.
Griffiths reiterated the importance of continued restraint on the ground and called on the two parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.
“We are working to the background of a very fragile situation in Yemen. We hope that de-escalation will be maintained on different frontlines, to give a chance for progress to be achieved on the political consultations”.
Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement and forces loyal to Hadi are meeting for a fourth day of talks in Sweden aimed at halting the Saudi-backed war on the impoverished Arab country.
The talks opened Thursday on an upbeat note, with the warring sides agreeing to a broad prisoner swap, boosting hopes that the talks would not deteriorate into further violence as in the past.
Some 8.4 million Yemenis are facing starvation as a result of the Saudi-led aggression, although the United Nations has warned that will probably rise to 14 million.
Three-quarters of impoverished Yemen’s population, or 22 million people, require aid.
