UN envoy stresses ‘critical opportunity’ as talks start in Sweden

Negotiations between Yemen’s government and Houthi militias opened on Thursday in what UN special envoy Martin Griffiths called a “critical opportunity.”

The informal talks are aimed at ending nearly four years of civil war in Yemen, which have resulted in a humanitarian crisis.

“During the coming days, we will have a critical opportunity to give momentum to the peace process,” Griffiths told reporters as the rival delegations gathered in Sweden.

“There is a way we can resolve the conflict,” Griffiths said, adding that the Security Council was “united” in its support for a resolution to the conflict.