London, Asharq Al-Awsat – A well informed Saudi Arabian source has revealed the details of the initiative that the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] member-states are putting forward to the Yemeni parties, to end the political crisis that Yemen has been experiencing for the past month. The source revealed that this initiative is the result of joint-Gulf efforts, adding that the Gulf States are in agreement on the details of this initiative.
According to the well-informed Saudi Arabian source, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen previously commissioned the GCC states to contact all the relevant parties, to inform them of the details of this initiative, in order to ensure its success. The source revealed that this took place in coordination with other Gulf ambassadors to Yemen.
In response to Asharq Al-Awsat’s question about which parties were informed of the details of this initiative, the Saudi source said that “all Yemeni parties including the “Youth Revolution” coalition, and the “Joint Meeting Parties”, as well as the tribes, the army, the southerners, and the Huthis.” He added “no party [in Yemen] was excluded with the exception of Al Qaeda.”
As for the initiative itself, the Saudi source said that if the Yemeni parties agreed to visit Saudi Arabia to carry out dialogue, this dialogue will deal with two major issues “firstly, arranging a peaceful transition of power that is not bound to a constitutional timeframe.” Secondly, the source said that this dialogue will also address the type of government that will be put in place during the transitional period in order to ensure Yemeni security, stability, and unity.
The Saudi source also stressed that the GCC states’ role is to facilitate the inter-Yemeni dialogue, adding that “this will allow them to monitor all parties adherence to their commitments.” He added “as for the solutions, these must be inter-Yemeni solutions, as the initiative is based upon the acceptance of the Yemenis.” The Saudi source also said that this initiative also enjoys US and European acceptance.