By Mohamed Osman

DOHA: Geneva II negotiations that began yesterday aim at restoring peace and stability in Yemen says the country's visiting Vice-President and Prime Minister Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah.

At a lecture he delivered at Qatar University (QU) yesterday Bahah said that despite optimism the negotiations will not be easy according to "our experience with the Houthi militia".

But the stick will be there if they did not comply with the international community's decisions he added.

Bahah who was making a presentation at QU entitled “The Republic of Yemen…Where is it headed to?” gave an insight into the history of Yemen over the past 50 years.

Mistakes committed and accumulated over this period have led to instability and bloodshed in the country.

Bahah pointed out that war will end but what happens after the war. "Are we going to usher in a new era of peace and stability or repeat the same mistakes and plant seeds for conflict to happen over another 10 or 50 years?"

There are supportive references for the Geneva negotiations including the GCC initiative outcome of national dialogue the UN decision No 2216 he said pointing out that the main concern today is to end the conflict because innocent lives are being claimed and bloodshed is taking place due to the mistakes repeated over the past 50 years and from which we have not learnt lessons he said.

Bahah also pointed out that due to the wars and instability Yemen today is the poorest country in the world with a per capita average income of $1.118 underlining the pressing need for concerted efforts for rehabilitation reconstruction and launching real development work in the country.

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition represents a new turning point in the history of the region and gave hopes for a new era and it comes within the Gulf and Arab security system he said.

Replying to questions he said the public resistance members are gradually being integrated into the armed forces but the process is going to slow down because there is the need for filtration to make sure that terrorists do not infiltrate into the ranks of fighters.

Bahah was accorded a warm welcome at a ceremony attended by members of QU leadership college deans diplomats local and international media representatives and around 200 students as well as QU faculty members and staff to honour his visit to Qatar. He was presented with a commemorative plaque by QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham.

In his presentation Bahah also highlighted a number of issues such as Al Houthi Movement and the six wars (2004-2009) Arab Spring and its impact on the situation in Yemen the GCC initiative in Yemen Al Hazm Storm (Asifat Al Hazm) and Geneva I and II conferences among others.

In his remarks Al Derham said: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome H.E. Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah to Qatar and QU. Since its inception the university has played a pivotal role in highlighting the most significant phases of the Qatari history".

Today the Arabic and Islamic nation Yemen is facing tremendous challenges which led to a new situation in the region. In this context Qatar University provides decision makers with a platform to discuss the various contemporary issues related to the region in line with Qatar’s ongoing mission to be a key driver of peace steadfastness in the face of injustice and preservation of the nations’ independence Al Derham said.

"This also shows the university’s commitment to advancing the spirit of belonging among students and to engaging them to reflect on national issues and contributing to building the future of the nation in line with our Arabic and Islamic values and traditions" Al Derham added.

The Peninsula