Positive signs appeared after the first day of the Yemen peace talks, held in one of Geneva’s suburbsunder the auspices of the United Nations. Diplomatic sources have said that the first session, led byUN envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, was positive, yet did not provide further details , in line with a media blackout policy which may continue throughout this week.

The United Nations has issued a statement read out by UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi who provided the three stage plan for the talks. He said that the UN-sponsored consultations, “seek to establish a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, secure improvements to the humanitarian situation and a return to a peaceful and orderly political transition”.

The government’s delegation was led by Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, along with seven other members and four advisers while Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdel Salam, headed his delegation in the talks.

The consultations kicked off on Tuesday, Dec. 15 with ceasefire in place, yet it was recorded at the time that the rebels had breached the truce. The Houthis admitted violating the truce by bombing some sites in Najran city in Saudi territory, after less than three hours into the ceasefire.

Coalition spokesman, Brigadier General Ahmed Al Assiri, announced, hours prior to the truce, that the coalition forces, the national army, and the Popular Resistance have captured the Red Sea island of Zuqur after few days of taking control over Hanish Island.