US raises possibility of Syrian style ceasefire in Yemen
Date
3/12/2016 11:08:35 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Saudi King Salman (R) meets US Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 11 2016. Saudi Press Agency Handout via Reuters
HAFR AL-BATIN Saudi Arabia: US Secretary of State John Kerry raised the possibility on Saturday of getting a ceasefire in Yemen similar to the arrangement that has been implemented in Syria the State Department said.
Speaking in Hafr al-Batin in Saudi Arabia at a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir whose country leads an Arab coalition trying to dislodge Iran-allied Houthis from areas in Yemen captured last year Kerry said that both sides have agreed to work together in the coming days “to explore the possibilities of a political solution.”
“We both agree that it would be desirable to see if we can find a similar approach as we did in Syria to try to get a ceasefire” Kerry said referring to the truce that has largely been holding for nearly two weeks in Syria.
“So we’re going to continue to work on that quietly and we have a team of people who are going to continue to be working together to that effect” he added.
Jubeir said Saudi Arabia believed a political settlement that would ensure the Houthis abided by common understandings reached before the Houthi capture of Sanaa would pave the way to a solution.
“We reiterated to the secretary of state our commitment as expressed by the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) heads of state to embark on a long-term reconstruction and development plan for Yemen once the hostilities have ended” Jubeir said.
“We are determined to protect legitimacy in Yemen and we’re also committed to a political process in Yemen.
(Reporting by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
Reuters