UN envoy talks of ‘masterplan’ as tensions escalate in Yemen
GARGASH SAYS VIEWS EXPRESSED BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON CONFLICT ARE ‘BIASED’
UN peace envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths yesterday launched a new bid to revive peace talks for the war-devastated country amid tensions in the south. On Wednesday, the Southern Transitional Council called for protests against the government, stoking fears of further unrest in the country suffering from acute humanitarian and economic woes.
Griffiths yesterday met in Abu Dhabi with Aidarous Al Zubaidi, the council’s head, on its possible participation in any new talks for peace. The meeting tackled the situation in Yemen’s south and economic collapse, according to a statement on the council’s website. The Yemeni government warned against “acts or rioting”, the official news agency Saba reported. The government urged Yemenis to reject what it termed “calls for chaos, disintegration and division”.
Interview
In an interview to Reuters, he said the best way to resolve Yemen’s humanitarian crisis was to fix the economy so stemming a slide in the riyal currency is the top international priority. Griffiths said the UN is discussing an emergency plan to stem the riyal’s fall and restore economic confidence. Three-quarters of its population, or 22 million people, require aid and 8.4 million people ■ are on the brink of starvation. “There’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this economic issue is now the overwhelmingly most important priority,” envoy Martin Griffiths told Reuters.
“Within the UN we’re talking about the need for such a masterplan ... an immediate set of measures over weeks which the World Bank, IMF, UN agencies, the Gulf obviously, the government of Yemen could come together to discuss,” he said.
The riyal has lost more than half its value against the US dollar since the start of the war. Authorities sought to boost liquidity last year by printing money, but it plunged from 250 to the dollar after the first batch of notes was rolled out. It was trading at around 700 yesterday.
Griffiths said that by November the UN hopes to resume consultations with the warring sides. The first attempt in three years at talks collapsed a month ago after Al Houthis failed to turn up.
Gargash comments
Meanwhile, commenting on the text of the EU parliament seeking ban on sale of weapons to the coalition, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash tweeted: “European Parliament today unfortunately adopted biased text on Yemen, ignoring the Iran-backed Houthis’ responsibility in initiating & prolonging the conflict. Intentionally omitting the Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and within Yemen risks EP credibility in region.”