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Yemeni Presidency: Houthis Seek Halt of Air Raids | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Yemeni President receives U.N. special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Riyadh (Sabaa Net)


Yemeni President receives U.N. special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Riyadh (Sabaa Net)

Yemeni President receives U.N. special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Riyadh (Sabaa Net)

Aden- Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi convened with his advisors today to discuss files presented by the U.N. special envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, regarding Yemen’s future.

Two days ago, before departing to Sana’a, U.N. special envoy Ahmed had conferred on the case files with President Hadi.

President Hadi confirmed that permanent peace is what will help Yemen avoid future conflicts, based on that, everyone must work on anchoring peace and stability.

Hadi advisor, Yassin Makawi, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that most Houthi demands revolve around the halt of air raids. Their demands are in line with preparations for launching political negotiations. On the other hand, ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh requests nothing but a secure escape route from Yemen for himself.

Former President Saleh had worked hand in hand with Houthis for insurgency to takeover and tear Yemen apart.

U.N. special envoy Ahmed had returned to Sana’a yesterday. He is missioned to look into developments for a political settlement for Yemen.

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper was informed by sources that setting a date and for future negotiations are atop the U.N. envoy’s agenda, in addition to tracking down progress on the Saudi-Yemeni border truce.

Advisor Makawi told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the Yemeni government, despite the insurgents’ continuous incursions, is bent on reaching peace. However, at the same time the government does require trust building measures to be accomplished before heading for negotiations.

Trust building measures include freeing political captives held by Houthis.

Makawi also confirmed that Houthis have no other option than to abide to the implementation of the U.N. resolution 2216. Putting the resolution into effect is the main gateway to a true solution in Yemen.

Yemeni political sources assert that the U.N. envoy Ahmed has taken several proposals over to Houthis and Pro-Saleh supporters (armed militants supporting ousted President Saleh).

Among the proposals brought by Ahmed are insurgents attending a new round of negotiations by the end of March, and the talks being moved from Geneva to an Arab nation.

Based on that, Makawi predicted that Kuwait would be the country Yemeni deliberations are moved to. “Because they are aimed at restricting the issue to the region, and that Kuwait had played a positive role in settling previous disputes in Yemen,” he said.

“Ould Cheikh’s efforts are to convince insurgents with implementing U.N. resolution 2216 and then go to negotiations,” Makawi added.

If the U.N. envoy’s mission is a success, Makawi predicted negotiations taking place at the end of this month.