Saudi, UAE envoys brief counterparts on Yemen situation

RIYADH — Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Muhammad Al-Jaber and UAE Ambassador to Kingdom Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan met on Saturday with ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a number of other ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom.

During the meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, they discussed the latest developments in Yemen, especially the Yemeni army’s achievements and victories in Hodeidah, humanitarian efforts being exerted for the Yemeni people, and a number of issues of mutual interest.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, Al Jaber, who is also executive director of Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations Center, said that the Kingdom and the Coalition partners are supporting the legitimate government and the Yemeni army, which has proven its heroism in restoring Yemeni lands from the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

“The liberation of the Hodeidah city and port will represent freeing the humanitarian and relief works from the grip of terrorism of Houthi militias, which used the port to serve their interests, smuggle weapons from Iran, prolong the war, and impoverish and starve the Yemeni people,” he said, adding that the political solution, based on the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcome of the Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council resolution 2216, has been sought by the Coalition and the international community, but was rejected by the Houthi militias.

On the humanitarian work of the Coalition countries, Al-Jaber said: “Through the Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations Plan launched by the Coalition in January 2018, we have accomplished good initiatives launched for the Yemeni people, and these consist of several projects including raising the capacity of Yemeni ports, and projects for repairing roads in Yemen. The Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have provided more than a third of the international contributions to the United Nations humanitarian response plan in Yemen.”

He pointed out that the Coalition will work immediately after the liberation of Hodeidah port to deliver relief materials and humanitarian aid. An initiative has been launched two days ago to cover all areas of Yemen, he said and asserted that the port will be a lifeline for Yemenis and not a conduit for weapons of death and destruction. — SG/SPA