Al Houthis reject another peace bid
MATTIS AND POMPEO PUT ONUS ON AL HOUTHIS AND IRAN TO END CONFLICT
The Iran-backed Al Houthi militia has rejected a United Nations-brokered peace plan, to end the war in Yemen, proposed yesterday by the Trump administration.
A spokesperson for the militia, which overthrew the legitimate government in 2014, claimed in a statement to an Iranian news channel that the plan “would divide the country.”
US Defence Secretary, James Mattis, told an audience in Washington earlier that Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition was ready for a deal, and that the talks between the coalition and the Al Houthi militia were being arranged by the UN special envoy, Martin Griffiths. Soon after, Sweden offered to host the US-proposed talks.
Mattis said, “I believe the Saudis and the Emirates are ready and in fact had the [Al] Houthis not walked out of the last round Martin Griffiths had going, we would probably be on the way there right now.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on his part, issued a statement hours after Mattis’ announcement, proposing specific terms for the proposed ceasefire. He said it is time for the cessation of hostilities, including missile strikes from Al Houthi-controlled areas, into neighbouring countries.
The Iran-backed Al Houthi militia has rejected a United Nations-brokered peace plan, to end the war in Yemen, proposed yesterday by the Trump administration.
A spokesperson for the militia, which overthrew the legitimate government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in 2014, claimed in a statement to an Iranian news channel that the plan “would divide the country.”
US Defence Secretary James Mattis told an audience in Washington earlier that the Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition was ready for a deal, and that the talks between the coalition and the Al Houthi militia were being arranged by the United Nations special envoy, Martin Griffiths.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on his part issued a statement about three hours after Mattis’ announcement, proposing specific terms for the proposed ceasefire.
Soon after, Sweden offered to host the US-proposed talks. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said the UN has asked her country if it “could be a place for the UN envoy to gather the parties in this conflict”. Wallstrom told Swedish news agency TT that her country would be “happy about it,” but that nothing is definite.
Demilitarisation
Pompeo suggested “substantive consultations under the UN special envoy” to start in November in a third country to implement “confidencebuilding measures to address the underlying issues of the conflict, the demilitarisation of borders, and the concentration of all large weapons under international observation.”
Talks planned in Geneva in September failed to take place, as Al Houthi representatives refused to attend without guarantees of safe passage for their wounded soldiers. The two sides have not held talks for two years.
Mattis said, “I believe the Saudis and the Emirates are ready, and in fact had the [Al] Houthis not walked out of the last round Martin Griffiths had going, we would probably be on the way there right now.”
Mattis put the onus for the continuing conflict on Al Houthis and their Iranian backers. The plan laid out by Pompeo also put the onus on Al Houthis to stop cross-border attacks first.