Yemen government puts forth demands before Geneva talks
SEEKS MEASURES LIKE RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND HANDOVER OF CONTROL OF INSTITUTIONS
Yemen’s internationally-recognised government has demanded the release of all politicians and military officials kidnapped by Al Houthis, and the handover of control of all government institutions, as a goodwill gesture ahead of the upcoming UNsponsored talks in Geneva. The talks are aimed at ending the crisis engulfing Yemen, an official said yesterday.
Mohammad Al Sa’di, Yemen’s minister of industry and member of the official delegation to the Geneva talks, said that the government delegation has held a series of “positive” meetings in the past few days to prepare for the next week’s talks, including a meeting with the UN envoy to Yemen, Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad, who has handed the Yemeni leadership a draft agenda for talks.
“The government delegation has submitted its amendments to Geneva 2 agenda to the UN envoy and [said] that consultations are focusing now on reaching an agreement that is based on the implementation of the UN resolutions 2216 to end the Yemeni crisis,” Al Sa’di was quoted by the Saudi-owned Asharq Al Awsat as saying.
Proposed amendments include adopting confidencebuilding measures before engaging in political talks through several steps, mainly the “release of kidnapped officials and activists, the handover of the government institutions, and the withdrawal from the cities,” the Yemeni minister said.
Stubborn
“We know that Al Houthis and [former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah] Saleh are stubborn towards these demands, but we place the [demands] among our priorities,” he said.
The draft agenda includes discussions on measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen, revive its economy, release prisoners and reach a ceasefire in different areas as prelude to a comprehensive ceasefire across the country, according to press reports.
“I believe this time everybody wants to go to Geneva with the desire to remove all the obstacles in the path of talks, with an emphasis on UN resolution 2216,” Fu’ad Rashid, a leader of the southern movement, told Gulf News. Rashid, who is based in Cairo, even anticipated a third round of talks.
“The [Hadi] government is responsible for its citizens and wants to achieve peace, unlike the militants,” added Rashid, referring to Al Houthis.
“Al Houthi leaders and Saleh are ready to go [to the talks] because the reality on the ground is pushing them to reach a settlement,” Rashid said, adding that Al Houthis are in a “very bad military situation”.
Meanwhile, loyalist troops reportedly recaptured the strategic town of Jaar in Abyan province from Al Qaida in southern Yemen less than 24 hours after it fell into their hands, according to reports.
Temporary headquarters
Jaar is considered a key link between Aden, where the government has its temporary headquarters, and Al Mukalla, the Al Qaida-held capital of Hadramout province, military sources explained.
Also, the first Sudanese soldier was killed in fighting to liberate Al Sharija area in Lahj province. His death came one day after the Yemeni army began a large-scale operation in the area with the participation of Sudanese troops.
“In this battle, units of the Sudanese army are participating [for the first time] with the members of the Popular Resistance with an air cover provided by the [Arab] coalition against Al Houthi militants and forces [loyal] to Saleh,” Qaid Nasr, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance, was quoted as saying.