EU Reiterates ‘Full Support’ for UN-Led Political Process in Yemen

“The EU welcomes the ‘Stockholm Agreement’ reached between representatives of the Yemeni parties under the auspices of the United Nations in December 2018," the Council said in a statement published on its website after Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement and forces loyal to fugitive former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi agreed on the first phase of a pullback of forces from the key port city of Hudaydah.

“The EU and its member states will continue to engage actively with all the parties to the conflict and are committed to further support the UN-led political process, including through political dialogue with relevant regional actors, with the aim of continuing to produce tangible results, ending the conflict and fostering an improved regional environment,” it said.

“The EU reaffirms that only a negotiated and inclusive political solution can end the conflict in Yemen. The EU calls on all parties to maintain their commitment to the UN-led process in view of the upcoming talks, and reiterates that sustainable peace can only be achieved through negotiations involving the meaningful participation of all parties concerned, including civil society, women and youth.”

The statement added, “At this critical juncture for the future of Yemen, the Council reiterates the EU's full support for the UN-led political process and the work of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and of the United Nations mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA). The EU has contributed with over 560 million euros of assistance since the beginning of the conflict.”

The first phase of the deal between the two sides provides for a pullback from the ports of Hudaydah, Saleef, Ras Issa and from parts of the city where there are humanitarian facilities.

The United Nations is hoping that a de-escalation in Hudaydah will allow desperately-needed food and medical aid to reach millions on the brink of starvation in Yemen.

A new round is planned within a week to finalize details on the second phase of redeployment, the UN statement said.

The ceasefire and a Hudaydah pullback agreed in Stockholm have been hailed as a major step toward ending Saudi Arabia's nearly four-year war on Yemen.

The talks on Saturday and Sunday were the fourth meeting held between the sides to try to agree on the modalities of the pullback of forces since the ceasefire came into force on December 18.