Yemen mission has been accomplished, says UAE daily
Date
6/19/2016 2:22:13 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 17th June, 2016 (WAM)--It''s almost 15 months since the Armed Forces of the UAE joined a regional coalition of Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia, to restore the legitimate government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Yemen.
That administration was forcefully and illegally usurped by Al Houthi rebels with arms supplied by and political interference from the government in Tehran.
The Arab coalition was supported by a series of resolutions from the United Nations Security Council and it acted swiftly to secure key cities and regions from lawless elements, terrorists and Al Houthis.
"Sadly, as we in the UAE are all too aware, there was a high price paid in terms of blood spilled and martyrdom of the brave and courageous members of our Armed Forces," Gulf News said in its editorial on Friday.
In the past 15 months, more than 6,000 have been killed while 2.8 million people displaced as a result of the insurrectionist actions of Al Houthis and other illegitimate factions.
For fifty days, stop-and-start peace negotiations in Kuwait City have tried to convince Al Houthis that they have a part to play in building a safe and secure Yemen, and that the Gulf states, which acted swiftly to restore legitimacy, are acting in good faith. Building trust takes time.
"But in Yemen itself, as far as the UAE Armed Forces are concerned, it''s mission has been accomplished: The phase of fighting is over. The focus must now shift from making peace to building peace putting better structures in place; making sure those in need have humanitarian supplies; that schools and hospitals can be rebuilt; and that infrastructure, water and electricity delivery will be effective," it added.
Thanks to the work by the international coalition and the UAE is proud to have been able to play its part in making sure the Yemeni people were not abandoned to outside forces with their own agenda for the nation the military goals have been achieved.
But how does Yemen move on? The paper enquired. "That needs a concerted effort from its friends to make sure the skills, services and finances to help Yemenis rebuild their broken country are available."
It underscored that Al Houthis too must embrace this opportunity to create a better Yemen, acting in good faith towards the Kuwait talks and playing a full and constructive role in nation-building.
"That cannot be achieved by holding on to weaponry that can again be unleashed at some stage in the future. Iran''s growing influence in the region has been thwarted. Now, it''s time to build a better Yemen by Yemenis," the paper concluded.
WAM/Majok