EU reiterates support to UN efforts in Yemen

Britain expresses regret over ‘disturbance’ during Saudi aide’s London visit

BRUSSELS, April 3, (Agencies): The EU stressed Monday that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Yemen but that the crisis can only be solved through a negotiation process, involving all the parties concerned, to an inclusive political solution.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg in a statement reiterated the EU’s strong support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to achieve a resumption of negotiations and urged all parties to the conflict to react in a flexible and constructive manner and without preconditions.

The EU called on all parties to urgently agree on a cessation of hostilities to be monitored by the United Nations as a first step towards the resumption of peace talks under UN leadership.

It also called on all international and regional actors to engage constructively with Yemeni parties to enable a de-escalation of the conflict.

The statement expressed concern at the consequences of the war in Yemen for the region’s stability.

“The war has created the conditions for criminal and terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Da’esh in Yemen and others to thrive, “it said.

It urged the Government of Yemen to assume its responsibilities in the fight against terrorist groups which are taking advantage of the current instability.

The EU urged all parties to the conflict to take resolute action against such groups, whose activities represent an additional threat to a negotiated settlement and pose significant risks to the security of the region and beyond.

The EU welcomed the high-level pledging conference for the crisis in Yemen that will take place on 25 April in Geneva co-hosted by the Secretary-General of the UN and the governments of Sweden and Switzerland.

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LONDON: Britain has expressed regret to Saudi Arabia after what it described as a “disturbance” during a visit by an aide to Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to London last week.

Activists said on social media that a demonstrator tried to perform a “citizen’s arrest” against Major General Ahmed al-Asseri as he tried to enter an office in London on Thursday.

Asseri is also the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition engaged in fighting against Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Activists accuse Saudi Arabia of committing war crimes against civilians in Yemen, a charge Riyadh denies.