PARIS, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- Conciliation talks between the Yemeni government and the Houthis wrapped up on Thursday following concord on a number of issues including prisoners' swap.
The two sides, according to media reports from the venue of the conciliation process in Sweden, agreed that the Houthis would withdraw from ports of the Red Sea city of Al-Hodaida and nearby locations to positions north of Sanaa in 14 days, to be followed with deployment of government forces south of the planned demarcation line.
The Houthis will pull out of the whole city of Al-Hodaida, in the second phase, to northern locations, in 21 days.
Moreover, the government and the Houthis agreed on a truce in Al-Hodaida, abstaining from bringing in reinforcements and opening corridors for delivering humanitarian aid.
Although they have agreed on some significant matters, they could not work out an accord on opening Sanaa airport.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that outcome of the talks signaled "start of the end of the Yemeni crisis." The United Nations, he has added, will be "a main supervisor" of the port in Al-Hodaida, while "local forces" will take charge of order in other sectors.
He confirmed that the next round of the discussions would be held in January. (pickup previous) mjz.rk