Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Yemeni Minister Qubaty: Comprehensive Coordination among Iran, Insurgency, Al-Qaeda | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55351565
Caption:

Yemeni Minister of Information and Mass Media Mohammed Qubaty


Cairo- Yemeni Minister of Information and Mass Media Mohammed Qubaty exposed Houthis and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh having plans to fully coordinate with Iran and al-Qaeda.

Qubaty, in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, said that counterterrorism special forces, which were struck formerly by U.S. forces during Saleh’s term in power, are now the same forces perpetrating terrorist attacks.

The coordination encompasses an array of terrorist attacks and political turbulences, given that Tehran is already putting a spoke in the Yemeni peace talks happening in Kuwait, Qubaty commented.

Iran dispatched advisors to the negotiations, and carried private meetings with the insurgency delegation frequently, he said.

“All we have achieved after extensive Qatari and U.N. efforts spent on mediation was setting a reference base, which the U.N. approved six months ago.

“How can we trust that the other party at the negotiations had truly agreed to turn in arms, while it still strikes agreements with Iran on bringing more weapons into the country?” Qubaty said.

The Yemeni minister uncovered procuring proofs indicating that Iran ran arms into the war-torn country three times last month. He claimed that all incidents took place within a week.

Following is a set of questions answered by Yemeni Minister of Information and Mass Media Mohammed Qubaty:

What is your take on rumors about a deal being set to boost peace talks and eventually lead to a solution that satisfies everybody?

If the deal was for the sake of peace and the implementation of U.N. resolution 2216, the government’s delegation would highly welcome it. We have always confirmed the government’s commitment, according to approved references, to a peace-seeking solution. The references are the outcome of national dialogue and the Gulf initiative.

We are prepared to go about and around the world in order find a mechanism which successfully implements U.N. resolution 2216.

Are there any indicatives on setting the ploy… like the government’s approval on the Houthis partaking in authority, or the Houthis preparing to turn in arms and withdraw from sites they have overrun?

The question really lies here. The participation of Houthis in authority is agreed upon according to the five conditions announced by the U.N. envoy. The legitimacy had arrived at full understanding concerning the question of authority and the shape it would be molded into; governing authority would comprise diverse political parties solely dominated by law.

We reiterate that any political party-not a militia- is welcomed to be a part of building modern Yemen and the Federalism we have all agreed on.

However, it is not feasible for the insurgency to speak of turning in arms and later on go back on their word by keeping weapons under the pretext of them being partners in power.

Partnership is founded on these militias abiding the law, turning in weapons, withdrawing from cities and relieving besieged areas. These steps also represent the priorities to any solution aside implementing the items agreed upon with the U.N. envoy. The level of commitment would determine the real intentions of the insurgency parties on implementing U.N. resolution 2216.

How do you explain leaked information on the negotiations making notable progress?

We have become used to these methods. When the U.N. Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed reports to the U.N., no decisions are being taken in face of those hindering a peaceful solution for Yemen.

In your own evaluation for the current situation and progress achieved at the Kuwait-held peace talks, do you see any results?

There is no progress.

Do you mean that the only progress achieved is setting a reference base?

We have previously obtained that six months ago through a written speech we received from the U.N. on Houthis accepting resolution 2216. Also, Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi had received an official letter on the subject from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.