The Yemeni government is urging the international community to shift its way of dealing with the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ inflexibility in peace efforts and continued rejection of allowing maintenance of the derelict Safer oil tanker, which is threatening to cause an environment disaster in the Red Sea.
Moreover, the UN-backed Yemeni government demanded the international community also condemn the Houthis for their nonstop targeting of civilians in both the war-torn country and neighboring Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak reaffirmed his government’s “keenness to achieve peace and stability.”
Bin Mubarak voiced the government’s support for peace efforts during a mid-term videoconference meeting of the foreign ministers of state members of the Non-Aligned Movement, hosted by the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.
The minister’s statements come at a time pro-government forces, composed of the Yemeni army and the Popular Resistance, are fighting fierce battles against the Houthis in the strategic governorates of Marib and Al-Bayda.
“It (the Yemeni government) has made concessions after concessions for the sake of peace and sparing the bloodshed of Yemenis,” said bin Mubarak, adding that the Yemeni state has “dealt positively” with both UN and regional peace initiatives.
“The most recent initiative was presented by Saudi Arabia and the plan proposed by the UN, according to the references for comprehensive and sustainable peace in Yemen: the Gulf Initiative and its mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, starting with resolution 2216,” explained bin Mubarak.
However, the militias have “refused all these initiatives and chosen to pursue hostilities by firing ballistic missiles and using drone attacks against the over two million internally displaced civilian refugees in Marib.”
Apart from condemning the Houthis for their aggressions, the FM praised the Saudi-led Arab Coalition for backing pro-government forces in their fight against the militias and their efforts to restore security, peace and stability to Yemen.
He also thanked donor countries for sending aid to impoverished Yemenis experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis brought about by years of war waged by the Houthis.