International Community to launch political transition in Yemen

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- The international community is forecast to spearhead political transition in Yemen against backdrop of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Monday, extending curbs on the country.
The resolution, presented by Russia, stipulated extending the sanctions on Yemen for a year. However, it stopped short of alluding to Iran's involvement in the issue.
Also in Monday's session, the British delegates attempted to pass a resolution incriminating Iran for supplying missiles to the Houthis but their bid was foiled by the Russians who vetoed it.
The UNSC voted Monday on Resolution 2402 stipulating extension of the curbs on Yemen -- as mentioned in the previous Resolution 2140 -- till February 26, 2019. It also extended mandate of the UN experts team, according to the text in the same resolution, till March 28, 2019.
The resolution, adopted unanimously, affirms necessity of conducting full-scale political transfer in Yemen after holding a broad national conference, in line with the GCC Initiative.
Matthew Rycroft, the British delegate at the UNSC, said before the voting that the penalties should have been imposed on the "individuals and organizations that have been undermining peace and security in Yemen." Deployment of ballistic missiles must not be ignored for such formidable arms can pose a grave threat to international peace and security, he said.
He expressed concern at Iran's failure to stop supplying the Houthis with these long range missiles.
For his part, the Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia, said he objected to the proposed British resolution because it "would aggravate regional tension and lead to a conflict among major powers." The US envoy slammed Russia for vetoing the proposed British resolution charging that "Russia is protecting Iran while it is spreading its poisons in the region." She said that the UN experts team reported about horrific acts by Iran in Yemen, charging that Tehran delivered to the Houthis pilotless aircraft technology and projectiles technology.
In the beginning of the session, the UNSC President, the State of Kuwait Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, presented to the members the two draft resolutions for voting.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi condemned the Houthi attacks saying "we consider the firing of missiles on our brothers in Saudi Arabia a dangerous development and we affirm our standing alongside our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Yemen, since three years ago, has been witnessing a ferocious war between troops loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces, on one side and the Iranian-backed Houthis on the other. (end) asf.rk