Yemen's peace negotiations in Kuwait on right track

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) (Roundup) KUWAIT April 26 (KUNA) -- Yemen's peace consultations are on right track in light of positive atmospheres created during discussions among Yemeni warring parties on Tuesday that focused on security political and economic axes of upcoming period in accordance with the UN resolution 2216 and outcome of meeting held in Switzerland in 2015.

International efforts including the ones of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah exerted today and yesterday contributed to bringing views of parties closer together on issues mainly consolidating ceasefire which featured high on discussions held in Kuwait under the UN supervision.

The Yemeni warring parties' delegations resumed peace negotiations in Kuwait on Tuesday after a 24-hour pause over divergent views on the agenda of talks mainly ceasefire.

In this context His Highness the Amir met separately with UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad head of General People's Congress delegation Aref Al-Zouka head of Ansarullah group delegation Mohammad Faletah and Yemeni Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdulmalek Mekhlafi.

Speaking at a news conference at Bayan Palace after the peace talks on Tuesday the UN envoy said he briefed His Highness the Amir on the path of negotiations.

He commended efforts exerted by His Highness the Amir that contributed to creating these positive atmospheres at Yemen's peace consultations.

He thanked on behalf of the UN team His Highness the Amir for facilitations offered by the State of Kuwait lauding at the same time the role of Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in making "successful talks." The envoy hailed the role of the ambassadors of the 18-member transit process sponsoring countries to Yemen and the UN Security Council President's resolution calling on Yemenis to set a roadmap represented in agreeing on transitional security measures calling on the armed groups to withdraw from the areas under their control handing over heavy and medium weapons to the State and resuming a comprehensive political dialogue in accordance with the UNSC relevant resolutions the Gulf initiative and the outcome of national dialogue.

Reports showed that security situations in Yemen have been remarkably improved over the last days thanks to the truce and the local committees he said.

All condemn breaches of the ceasefire especially in Taiz Al Jawf and other areas which have been witnessing clashes he added noting that "we realize that reinforcing peace will take a period of time and need "goodwill" of all.

On political affairs he said consultations were intensively conducted with different parties which were keen on finding a comprehensive political solution to the crisis.

He said he proposed a general framework which includes security political and economic issues for the upcoming period indicating that this framework was set in accordance with the UNSC resolution 2216 the GCC initiative and its implementation mechanism and outcome of national dialogue.

The time is ripe that all parties should respond to suffering of Yemenis seeking security and stability he said.

He pointed out that the five points mentioned in the UNSC resolution 2216 will be discussed on Wednesday in a parallel manner.

He revealed that more time and patience are needed to reach a comprehensive peace. He however didn't expect that the parties would sign an agreement within two or three days.

All parties should take enough time for reaching a comprehensive and permanent agreement especially the negotiations have no timetable he affirmed.

He stressed the necessity of consolidating ceasefire through the big role exerted by the truce and local committees in Yemen so as to end suffering of Yemenis.

The negotiators focused on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2216 ongoing efforts to augment the ceasefire agreement that took force on April 10 as well as a peaceful process in Yemen based on the Gulf initiative and the outcome of the national dialogue. (end) om.hm