Sweden peace talks hopes high

YEMEN’S warring sides began peace negotiations in Sweden yesterday, with UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths describing the meeting as “an important milestone”.

“After two-and-a-half years without a formal political process, the convening of the two delegations here is an important milestone,” Griffiths said in the Swedish town of Rimbo.

Yemen, one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, has been embroiled in a disastrous power struggle between government forces and the Houthi rebels since late 2014. A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iran-linked rebels since March 2015.

Representatives from Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and the Houthi rebels were seated in the same room yesterday facing each other as Griffiths and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom gave statements.

“It’s now up to you, the Yemeni parties, to truly engage constructively and in good faith,” Wallstrom said.