GCC Welcomes Latest Commitment to a Ceasefire in Yemen

A boat sails in the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 21 December 2023. (EPA)
A boat sails in the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 21 December 2023. (EPA)
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GCC Welcomes Latest Commitment to a Ceasefire in Yemen

A boat sails in the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 21 December 2023. (EPA)
A boat sails in the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 21 December 2023. (EPA)

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Sunday the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-aligned Houthi militias recently announced commitment to take steps towards a ceasefire.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg made the announcement on Saturday.

“The Special Envoy will now engage with the parties to establish a roadmap under UN auspices that includes these commitments and supports their implementation,” said his office in a statement.

“The UN roadmap will include, among other elements, the parties’ commitment to implement a nationwide ceasefire, pay all public sector salaries, resume oil exports, open roads in Taiz and other parts of Yemen, and further ease restrictions on Sanaa Airport and the Hodeidah port. The roadmap will also establish implementation mechanisms and prepare for a Yemeni-owned political process under UN auspices,” continued the statement.

Albudaiwi hoped these measures will help reach a comprehensive political solution to Yemen that would bring prosperity, security and stability to the people.

He stressed the need to continue making efforts to support the efforts of the Yemeni people to reach a roadmap for the future to restore the country's stability, development and prosperity in order to achieve the aspirations of the people.

He expressed gratitude for the great and valuable efforts made by the United Nations, Saudi Arabia and Oman, which helped in securing these crucial measures on time. 



Saudi Arabia, Egypt Coordinate to Confront Terrorism, Cross-Border Organized Crime

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz in Cairo on Sunday. (SPA)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz in Cairo on Sunday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Coordinate to Confront Terrorism, Cross-Border Organized Crime

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz in Cairo on Sunday. (SPA)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz in Cairo on Sunday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on Sunday their determination to intensify joint coordination, especially in confronting extremist and terrorist organizations and organized cross-border crime.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz held talks in Cairo on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi upon the directives of the Saudi leadership.

Sisi underscored the importance of cooperation between their countries, pointing to Cairo and Riyadh’s “pivotal role in the stability of the region in wake of the grave and mounting challenges that demand continued cooperation,” said an Egyptian presidency spokesman.

Sisi expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, underlining the “depth of the fraternal and historic ties that bind their countries and peoples.”

Prince Abdulaziz conveyed to Sisi the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed, and wished Egypt continued progress and prosperity.

The minister had arrived in Cairo on Saturday on an official visit.

General Manager of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies Khaled Okasha said Prince Abdulaziz’s visit was “very important given the several major regional challenges, at the heart of which are security, terrorism and organized crime, as well as security instability.”

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the current climate forces security agencies to be on alert to confront any new or recurring threats.

Saudi-Egyptian coordination stretches back to decades as Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been at the forefront of countries that confronted terrorism and cross-border organized crime, he went on to say.

Sisi’s meeting with Prince Abdulaziz reflects their countries’ keenness on raising the level of security coordination and taking “advanced” steps in that direction, he added.

Moreover, he noted that the security coordination between them “carries political dimensions” and is “appreciated by regional countries.”

Egyptian security expert Ashraf Amin echoed these remarks, adding that Saudi Arabia and Egypt are keen on exchanging information to combat terrorism and organized crime.

He noted the rise and development of electronic crimes, which demands efforts to develop the security measures to confront them.