The U.N. envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh, has called on the Yemeni parties involved in the current peace consultations in Kuwait to make concessions in order to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis.

At a press conference he held after Sunday’s morning session of consultations, Ould Cheikh confirmed that the Yemeni parties involved in the talks have reached an agreement to release half of all prisoners before the holy month of Ramadan.

He added that the Kuwait consultations are ongoing and are based on three principles – the Gulf initiative, outcomes of the national dialogue and Security Council resolution 2216.

Ould Cheikh stressed the coming days are “crucial for Yemen” and that the United Nations will make every effort to urge all those concerned with Yemeni affairs to comply with their national and humanitarian duties.

The U.N. envoy also warned interested political parties and participants in the talks that “the Kuwait consultations are a historic opportunity which will be difficult to repeat.”

On his part, Yemeni Minister of Tourism Muammar Al-Iryani said regional forces, Iranian specifically, are working to provoke sectarian strife in Yemen.

Al-Iryani confirmed in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that rumors about the formation of a new government or authority “are unrealistic,” pointing out that the legitimate president of Yemen, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, was elected by the people in free and democratic elections.