Cairo – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdul Malik al-Mekhlafi, who is also heading the government delegation at the peace talks in Kuwait, said that UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Sheikh had not presented his suggested road map yet.
Mekhlafi expected the road map to be presented during the coming two days.
“In any case, the international community remains committed to Resolution 2216,” Mekhlafi said, adding that Houthis thought they would come to Kuwait to legalize their rebellion.
Mekhlafi confirmed that Resolution 2216 was issued under Article Seven and is binding. He indicated that the international community wants a peace process which requires certain compromises.
FM said: “We accept Houthis as part of the settlement and Yemeni people, but under natural circumstances and after dropping their weapons, withdrawing, dissolving the committees, and revoking the insurgency.”
When asked about the statement of insurgency delegation, he said that it confirmed what they already knew about this group, “they don’t want peace, and didn’t come to Kuwait for peace, but to rather waste time.”
Mekhlafi continued to say that the insurgents thought they could gain something on the political level in Kuwait to compensate their failures in war.
The Houthi delegation returned to square one in the Yemeni – Yemeni peace talks in Kuwait after rejecting efforts of UN envoy and all other countries sponsoring the peace process in Yemen.
The delegation issued a statement rejecting all previous agreements and all efforts exerted for over 50 days during the peace talks in Kuwait.
In light of what insurgents declared in their statement, Yemeni sources considered it as an attempt to vacate the presidency and turn Kuwait talks into “reconciliation”.
Leader at al-Adala and al-Binaa Party Baligh Mekhlafi said: “In its attempt to contain those extremists, the international community is disappointing the Yemeni community.”
Yemeni source told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that main demand of the legitimate government is for the insurgents to hand over their weapons.
Sources close to the Kuwait talks refused to consider the recent change in position of the insurgency delegation as a failure of the talks.
According to sources, it is possible that countries sponsoring the peace process in Yemen will initiate a one-sided initiative in Yemen, after they were relying on a comprehensive solution.
Also, sources revealed that all parties are now familiar with all aspects of the solution plan for Yemen to be released soon.
During a meeting with Legitimate Yemeni leadership, President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi briefed the attendees on the current situation, developments, and efforts to reinstate peace according to Resolution 2216, Gulf Initiative, and National Dialogue.
Yemeni President said they look forward for peace to establish a secure future for the coming generations.
Saba news reported that the president met with committee of advisors and listened to an extensive report from FM Mekhlafi about the Kuwait talks. He explained that the delegation presented its political and security view for peace.
The recent developments come while insurgents try to empty the public institutions replacing thousands of employees with militia loyalists in a process known as “Houthi-ing” the state.