‘Yemen ready to show flexibility’
41 killed in IS-claimed bombings
KUWAIT CITY, May 23, (KUNA): The UN-backed Kuwait consultations on Yemen offer a last chance for all Yemenis to show their desire in peace, Yemen Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdulmalek Al-Mekhlafi said.
Al-Mekhlafi, who is leading the government delegation to the talks Kuwait has been hosting to resolve the Yemen crisis since April 21, expressed readiness to show flexibility and offer concessions for peace of the Yemeni people.
The foreign minister expressed hope that the other side, namely the General People’s Congress and Ansarullah movement, “have the same desire and readiness so as not to return to a whirlpool that lasted over five weeks, with no progress achieved.” This is a real chance to work seriously and sincerely, Al-Mekhlafi told the opening of the first session of talks on Monday that followed a five-day suspension.
“We have come (to Kuwait) to return (to Yemen) with peace,” he said, noting that the noble aim will be realized, God willing, if good intention and determination are found to achieve peace for the Yemeni people who have been suffering for long and “it is high time suffering ended.” Yemen has been hard hit and its national unity has been torn apart, Al-Mekhlafi said, hoping that through dialogue, cooperation, partnership and exclusion of no party, Yemen will be back as a dignified and strong state.
The Yemeni senior official thanked the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy
for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad for his hard efforts.
He also expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and to Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the efforts the two leaders’ exerted with Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Al-Mekhlafi also thanked the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who
met with the Qatari Amir and President Hadi, and then issued a statement entrusting his envoy on Yemen to present the government delegation with the necessary guarantees and assurances on certain issues, based on which the talks were resumed.
Meanwhile, twin bombings claimed by the Islamic State group hit Yemeni forces in Aden on Monday, killing at least 41 people in the latest of a spate of attacks in
the southern city.
The attacks in Aden -- which is serving as the temporary government headquarters after rebels forced authorities from the capital -- follow a major military operation against jihadists in parts of southern and southeastern Yemen.
Backed by a Saudi-led coalition, forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi are battling both Sunni extremists and Iran-backed Shiite rebels.