Omani Delegation Arrives in Sanaa to Hold Talks with Houthi Leaders
On Thursday, An Omani delegation arrived in Sana'a for talks with the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group to renew the ceasefire in Yemen and achieve a comprehensive peace deal. Two days earlier, the UN envoy to Yemen arrived in Oman and met with the Omani delegation and the Houthi spokesperson, Mohammed Abdul-Salam. The warring sides in Yemen agreed to a six-month ceasefire last year. Regional and international peace efforts aim at renewing it.
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that Yemen's peace progress is hindered by ongoing threats exchanged between the government and the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group. In a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday, he said "public threats to return to war" and economic warfare between the government and Houthis undermined peace efforts.He called on the two rivals "to refrain from escalatory rhetoric." The conflict in Yemen began in 2015 when the Houthis toppled the government.
In a meeting with German Embassy's Cooperation Officer on Wednesday, Yemen's Health Minister, Dr. Qassem Buhaibeh, called for support for sustainable development programs in Yemen. Buhaibeh praised Germany's aid to Yemen's healthcare sector through partnerships like the German Development Bank. He indicated that Yemen's health ministry focuses on specialized teams for sustainable development, aiming to introduce projects to stable provinces. Yemen's health sector has greatly deteriorated since the war broke out in 2015.
Amira Al-Hafiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, said in the UAE's speech during the Security Council session on Wednesday that despite the "fragile" truce in Yemen, the UAE is deeply concerned about the continuation of Houthi attacks along frontlines in many of provinces in Yemen. She said that "achieving peace in Yemen requires a comprehensive ceasefire and taking measures, including the release of all prisoners and detainees." The UAE is a member of the Saudi-led coalition that began a military campaign against the Houthis in 2015.
Iran's foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian, Thursday arrived in Riyadh, marking a substantial change in the ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The visit "is focusing on bilateral ties, regional and international issues," according to Iran's government media outlets. Iran and Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
