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Egypt Drafting U.N. Statement to Denounce ‘Government’ Formation in Sana’a | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People shop at the old market in the historic city of Sana’a, Yemen, October 21, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi


London- Two diplomats have revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Egypt is drafting a U.N. Security Council statement to denounce the unilateral steps taken by rebels in Yemen in forming a “government.”

Saudi Ambassador to the U.N. Abdullah al-Mouallimi said in a phone call that the statement is expected to be issued on Friday or Saturday.

He said there is a Russian objection to the statement, and negotiations with parties are ongoing.

Mouallimi added that the objection is over certain sentences and paragraphs that need to be amended. This is a normal thing at the U.N.

Yemeni Ambassador to the U.S. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said, however, that Russia showed no objection to the step itself.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government has delivered its remarks on the U.N. peace map to U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. A Yemeni official summarized the government’s remarks with three points: the political and security sequence in the map, weakening the constitutional powers of the president and restricting rebels’ withdrawal to Sana’a by excluding other vital regions.

The Yemeni diplomat said: “We insist that security arrangements be clear and specific in ways that cover all vital areas of Yemen, including Sana’a.”

He continued that the scheduling in the map contradicts with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216 because it starts with political steps followed by the withdrawal from Sana’a.

“They aren’t aware of the historical, geographic and social nature of Sana’a—withdrawing from it means nothing because it can be attacked at any time,” he added.