Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak stressed that the current peace efforts, led by the United Nations, with the help of Saudi Arabia and Oman, are focusing on reopening air and sea ports and lifting the siege by the Iran-backed Houthi militias on Taiz city.
In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, he spoke of the high-level coordination with Saudi Arabia to end the war in Yemen and restore peace.
He said the Yemeni government is sincere about ending the war and resuming the political process, with Saudi Arabia's support and the Kingdom's March 2021 initiative.
On Saudi Arabia's recent deposit in the state treasury to help in the payment of salaries, he said: "The Kingdom has always come to the aid of the Yemeni people. It has always stood by the people since the start of the Houthi coup."
"Its actions are an example loyalty, fraternity and good neighborliness," he added.
The Saudi deposit of 1.2 billion dollars has helped save Yemen from an imminent budget deficit. "We, therefore, thank our brothers' for their unlimited support to the Yemeni people," he stated.
Peace efforts, however, are being hampered by the Houthis that are exploiting the current calm to stoke tensions, make more difficult demands and prolong the crisis, bin Mubarak lamented.
“The militias don't care about the people's suffering and are only focused on their narrow interests," he went on to say.
“The Houthis want to continue to loot state resources in regions under their control. They have looted the revenues of Hodeidah port in violation of the Stockholm Agreement that says these funds must go to employees,” added the FM.
On criticism that the government was repeatedly making concessions, through the UN envoy, to the Houthis, while the Yemenis continue to suffer, he commented: "Yes, the political leadership and government continue to confront this criticism from their supporters."
"We are the legitimate authority, however, and we are keen that any concession, even if it favors the Houthis, should benefit the people in areas held by the militias."
Bin Mubarak cited the example of the reopening of Sanaa International Airport, which is held by the Houthis, that has eased travel for the Yemenis.
Furthermore, he clarified that the legitimate government and Houthis were not holding direct talks.
Moreover, he revealed that Iran has not changed its behavior in Yemen in spite of the agreement reached between Riyadh and Tehran in March to reestablish diplomatic ties.
“The arms and drones smuggling to the Houthis have continued,” bin Mubarak said. Iran is also still smuggling gas to the militias through Hodeidah port.
“The Iranian government continues to reject Yemeni government and Organization of Islamic Cooperation demands to remove Houthi representatives from the Yemeni embassy in Tehran,” added the FM.
Any possible settlement in Yemen must lead to the Houthis abandoning war and violence as a means to impose their political agenda. Rather, they must be open to political partnership and equality between all Yemenis, he demanded.
On a possible political settlement, bin Mubarak said it must preserve Yemen's sovereignty, unity, security and stability. It must be based on the three references and lead to the formation of a state where the Houthis abandon war and violence.
The state should be the sole authority allowed to possess weapons, remarked the FM.
