Sweden talks ‘critical opportunity’ for Yemen peace — UAE
ABU DHABI: Proposed UN-led talks in Sweden mark a ‘critical opportunity’ to bring peace to war-torn Yemen after four years of conflict, a top Emirati official said yesterday.
The comments from the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the pro- government coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen, came as UN envoy Martin Griffiths is in the rebel-held capital Sanaa seeking to push forward the planned talks.
“Evacuating wounded Huthi fighters from Sanaa once again demonstrates the Yemeni government & the Arab coalition’s support for peace,” the UAE’s state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said in a tweet.
Fifty wounded rebels left on a UN- chartered plane Monday for neutral Oman to be treated, in what was termed ‘a confidencebuilding’ measure ahead of any talks.
The conflict, which erupted in late 2014, has brought the impoverished country to brink of famine, and the UN has described Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.
Nearly 10,000 people are said to have been killed since the Saudiled pro- government coalition intervened in the conflict in early 2015, according to the World Health Organisation.
Human rights groups fear the actual toll is far higher.
No date has yet been set for the talks, which are due to be held in Sweden, but hopes have been building that they could go ahead this week.
“We believe Sweden offers a critical opportunity to successfully engage in a political solution for Yemen,” Gargash said in his tweet.
He added that “a sustainable Yemeni-led political solution offers the best chance to ending the current crisis.”
UN envoy Griffiths on Monday said on Twitter that he was ‘pleased to confirm’ 50 injured Yemenis were to be treated on neutral ground in Muscat and “urged all Yemenis to work together in pursuit of peace and stability”. — AFP