US to Yemen envoy: All sides "have important roles"

WASHINGTON, May 3 (KUNA) -- As the new UN Envoy for Yemen assumes his role, the US has stressed to him the need for an "inclusive political transition process" in the country, and that all sides have a part to play in its future.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed met with Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Lisa Monaco for what the White House described as "consultations" as he begins the job. In the statement released late Saturday, Monaco "underscored the importance the United States places on rapidly shifting from the military conflict in Yemen to all-party negotiations under UN auspices, and offered strong US support for Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed's efforts." She added: "This shift would allow Yemen to resume the inclusive political transition process outlined in the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the National Dialogue outcomes, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and focus on combatting Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula." The statement said the Obama Administration "strongly believes that all of Yemen's communities have important roles to play in the country's peaceful governance," and both Monaco and Ould Chaikh Ahmed "agreed that all Yemenis must come together in a political dialogue to serve the needs of the Yemeni people and counter the shared threat from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is exploiting the crisis." The two officials also discussed the "dire" humanitarian situation the country, the White House said.
Monaco "expressed US determination to support the unimpeded delivery of badly needed food, medicine, and other supplies to the people of Yemen who are suffering," and said the US "is working closely with humanitarian aid organizations, governments, and others to facilitate access and the urgent delivery of assistance to those in need." (end) ys.ha