A political team from the office of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed will begin a tour in Yemen in the interim capital of Aden, ahead of a “conditional” visit to Sanaa, a senior UN source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
It added that the visit was aimed at preparing for a new round of consultations should the parties demonstrate a sincere intention to reach a peaceful political solution to the ongoing crisis.
A source in the Yemeni government said that preparations were underway in Aden for the reception of the political team headed by Moein Shraim, Ould Sheikh Ahmed’s deputy.
Another source in the UN envoy’s office noted that the UN plane would not land in Sanaa before Houthis commit to easing the arbitrary measures taken against the leaders of the General People’s Congress.
The visit of the UN team to Sanaa will depend on the Houthis’ response to the UN’s demands.
The team had postponed a previous visit to “give the Houthi’s Ansarallah group a chance to take practical measures to create a constructive atmosphere for political dialogue,” a UN official told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Communication is continuing with all parties and the visit is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks,” the official said.
He stressed that some of the special envoy’s advisers would be part of the team and would hold several meetings with the Houthis and the General People’s Congress should they visit Sanaa.
The UN special envoy “calls for an end to the violence and support efforts to resume the political process in Yemen,” according to a statement on his official Twitter account.
Cheikh Ahmed also tweeted that latest developments in Sanaa were unacceptable and contrary to international law, calling for an immediate end to the intimidation of Congree leaders, activists and their families.
