The UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh officially announced yesterday that the Yemen peace consultations will be suspended for the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, and that this suspension will last until the middle of this month. The consultations began in April and have been ongoing for more than 70 days.

In response to reports about the failure of both sides to issue a statement regarding their commitment to returning to the consultations, Ould Cheikh revealed that the United Nations and the Foreign Ministry of Kuwait have received written guarantees and commitments from both delegations taking part in the consultations that they would return to Kuwait in order to resume talks after two weeks.

He also stressed that members of the two delegations and their leaders would participate in activity related to the consultations during the period of suspension, and that the consultations would progress to a new phase. Ould Cheikh also indicated that he will hold meetings with Yemeni and regional leaders over the two-week period to discuss a comprehensive solution to the Yemen crisis.

At a press conference held in Kuwait yesterday, the UN envoy refuted news talking about the failure of the consultations and claims that no agreements have been reached.

He said that the two delegations stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Yemen and discussed the “lengthy proposals for the next political phase such as military withdrawals, security arrangements, the surrender of weapons, thorny political issues, ways of improving the economic and humanitarian situation and releasing prisoners and detainees”.

Ould Cheikh also revealed that he had made a proposal for a road map that includes a vision that he described as practical in order to “end the conflict and restore Yemen to a peaceful political path”. He added that the vision or the road map includes “making security arrangements that resolution 2216 stipulates and the formation of a national unity government that works to re-establish the provision of basic services and revive the Yemeni economy”.

According to this road map, the national unity government is responsible for setting up a political dialogue that identifies the steps necessary to achieve a comprehensive political solution including a road map for elections and identifying the functions of institutions that will manage the transition period and complete the drafting of the constitution”.