Saudi Arabia backs UN envoy’s efforts to secure peace in Yemen

Saudi Arabia supports UN efforts to secure a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, the kingdom’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has said.

His statement followed a meeting in Riyadh with Rashad Al Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen.

Prince Khalid said he “reaffirmed the kingdom’s unwavering support” for the council and the Yemeni people.

He also emphasised that Saudi Arabia backed efforts by Hans Grundberg, the UN’s envoy to Yemen, “to reach a comprehensive and sustainable political solution that achieves peace and prosperity” for the country.

Saudi Arabia began talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Sanaa last month in an effort to revive a ceasefire and reach a political solution to the conflict.

The meetings resulted in the first phase of a prisoner swap deal, when more than 300 were released.

A second round of talks over the deal was postponed because of a dispute about delays to prison visits. Mr Grundberg last week urged parties to build on progress to move closer to a political solution.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Mr Grundberg said he was encouraged by discussions he held with Yemeni and regional parties.

Mr Al Alimi has been in Saudi Arabia since Friday, when he attended the Arab League summit in Jeddah.

In the final communique of its three-day meeting, the Arab League called for support for peace negotiations in Yemen.

It reaffirmed international and regional efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis.