Yemen and the UN,
▶ Yemeni government fears humanitarian action will be used as an escape route for foreign combatants
The UN Secretary General says the world body’s dealings with Yemen’s Houthi rebels does not mean they will be granted legitimacy.
“Humanitarian action is necessary but this doesn’t mean at all the recognition of a Houthi camp, and it doesn’t change at all our policy to recognise only one government,” Antonio Guterres said at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Yemeni government protested to the UN over a deal with the Houthis signed by its humanitarian co-ordinator, under which the rebels could fly patients out of the capital, Sanaa, for treatment.
Officials in Yemen fear that the rebels would use these flights to smuggle fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and other allies out of the country. The government said it would not recognise the agreement, which was reached without its knowledge.
Mr Guterres also called on all parties in Yemen to reconvene and aim for a political agreement after the recent failure when the Iran-backed Houthis refused to attend.
“We are all aware of the difficulties encountered by my special envoy and his tireless efforts to create conditions for dialogue and a political process,” he said.
Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, met rebel leaders and other factions in the country last week to ensure their commitment to peace.
Addressing wider issues ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, Mr Guterres voiced his concern for multilateralism as a force for dealing with global problems.
“Multilateralism is under attack from many different directions precisely when we need it most,” he said. “I will use my meetings and other opportunities next week to press renewed commitments to global order and the United Nations.”
Mr Guterres said the participation of 84 heads of state and 44 heads of government at the annual gathering showed the UN was still “the world’s indispensable forum for international co-operation”.
US President Donald Trump, who will address the General Assembly on Tuesday, has withdrawn from areas of international co-operation and has cut contributions to the UN, leaving a 5 per cent deficit in its budget for next year.
Mr Guterres said that despite the US cutting funding to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, it had kept its schools open and would seek alternative funding sources during the year.
The General Assembly will begin tomorrow with the launch of Youth 2030 and Generation Unlimited initiatives to provide young people with good quality education, decent paying jobs and a voice in decision-making.
“This is crucial to their well-being and their countries’ development. It will also contribute to preventing deradicalisation,” Mr Guterres said.
The UN youth envoy, Jayathma
Wickramanayake, said she was working with the secretary general to promote young people in politics.
“We are trying to change the idea that youths are dangerous or out of place in government. We want to give them more engagement in politics,” Ms Wickramanayake told The National.
Mr Guterres touched on promising global developments, in particular the end to decades of hostility between Eritrea and Ethiopia, whose leaders signed a peace accord on September 16 in the Saudi city of Jeddah, which was attended by the UN chief.
“The presidents of Djibouti and Eritrea subsequently launched in Jeddah a dialogue for peace as well,” Mr Guterres said. “And last week’s signing of a peace agreement on South Sudan is a further step in the right direction for the region and beyond.”