Yemeni Govt Stresses Need for Ending Houthi-led Coup

The Yemeni foreign minister and the deputy UN envoy hold a meeting (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni foreign minister and the deputy UN envoy hold a meeting (Saba News Agency)
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Yemeni Govt Stresses Need for Ending Houthi-led Coup

The Yemeni foreign minister and the deputy UN envoy hold a meeting (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni foreign minister and the deputy UN envoy hold a meeting (Saba News Agency)

Yemen’s government reaffirmed its support for the peace process led by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, provided that it leads to a comprehensive and lasting solution based on the three references, namely the GCC Initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and Security Council Resolution 2216.

According to the Yemeni government, the path to peace must end the nationwide Houthi-led coup and alleviate the suffering of Yemenis.

Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadrami has reiterated the internationally recognized government’s keenness on facilitating the work of Griffiths on reaching a sustainable and comprehensive solution under the three references.

In a meeting with Deputy Head of Mission at the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen Muin Shreim, al-Hadrami renewed the Yemeni state’s commitment to positively cooperate with UN efforts, and asserted its interest in facilitating Griffiths’ mission.

A few months ago, Griffiths presented Yemeni warring parties with a draft joint declaration for a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Yemen.

It is noteworthy that the declaration was amended more than once at the request of each side to the conflict. Griffiths, for his part, has intensified his efforts in recent weeks to bring the two rival parties face to face.

Yemeni FM al-Hadrami also condemned Houthis for creating a fuel crisis in areas under their control.

Houthis are believed to have faked the fuel shortage to further strangle Yemenis economically and channel resources to their war effort. They are also exploiting the situation to make political gains.

Al-Hadrami confirmed that the government is also working on freeing detainees sitting in Houthi prisons according to a previously reached swap deal with the Iran-backed group.

Speaking on the impending disaster at the rundown Safer oil tanker, the senior diplomat urged the international community to pressure Houthis into giving UN experts and technicians access to the derelict ship.



France Says EU Will Lift Some Sanctions Against Syria After Assad’s Fall 

 People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
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France Says EU Will Lift Some Sanctions Against Syria After Assad’s Fall 

 People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)

Some European Union sanctions against Syria are being lifted, France's foreign minister said on Monday, as part of a broader EU move to help stabilize Damascus after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

EU foreign ministers were discussing the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday with the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas having told Reuters that she was hopeful an agreement on easing the sanctions could be reached.

"Regarding Syria, we are going to decide today to lift, to suspend, certain sanctions that had applied to the energy and transport sectors and to financial institutions that were key to the financial stabilization of the country," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on arrival at the EU meeting in Brussels.

He added that France would also propose slapping sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for the detention of French citizens in Iran.

"I will announce today that we will propose that those responsible for these arbitrary detentions may be sanctioned by the European Union in the coming months," he said.

Assad, whose family had ruled Syria with an iron first for 54 years, was toppled by opposition forces on Dec. 8, bringing an abrupt end to a devastating 13-year civil war that had created one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times.

The conflict left large parts of many major cities in ruins, services decrepit and the vast majority of the population living in poverty. The harsh Western sanctions regime has effectively cut off its formal economy from the rest of the world.