A+ A-

GCC chief discusses Yemeni crisis with UN envoy

GCC Secretary General Abdulatif Al-Zayani and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad
GCC Secretary General Abdulatif Al-Zayani and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad
RIYADH, July 1 (KUNA) -- GCC Secretary General Abdulatif Al-Zayani has held talks with the visiting Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad regarding the Yemeni crisis and outcome of the inconclusive Geneva deliberations among the country's warring parties.
General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council said in a statement the two sides discussed, during the meeting held late on Tuesday, efforts exerted by the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon to resume the talks among the foes and pave way for implementing the UN resolution 2216.
Al-Zayani and Ould Cheikh also discussed efforts by relief organizations to deliver aid to the Yemeni people and means of speeding up the humanitarian action, considering mounting hardships suffered by the Yemenis due to escalation of fighting and violence.
The Yemeni parties held conciliation talks in Geneva, under UN auspices, early last month, but they could not reach consensus on issues if dissension. They even failed to work out a cease-fire to end the violence.
The UN however pledged to pursue its bids to reach a settlement to the crisis and the special envoy has visited regional countries, including Kuwait, as part of the ongoing efforts to end the conflict.
The UN had issued resolution 2216, stipulating resumption of dialogue among the foes to reach a viable political solution. It imposes embargo on arms supplies to Houthi militia and their allies, urges the parties to spare civilians' lives and respect human rights.
Violence in Yemen began in March, when the Houthis expanded their presence and influence in the country with military might. They rejected presidency of Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and allied themselves with the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since March, Hadi's followers have been battling the Houthis and military personnel loyal to Saleh. (end) yms.rk