The UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is preparing to launch the second week of consultations with the Yemeni parties in Amman to reach a framework that leads to achieving a comprehensive settlement in the country.
Informed Arab sources expect that the UN envoy will benefit from the militias' recent losses to reach a ceasefire. However, Yemeni observers believe Houthis will not stop their military escalation and terrorist attacks due to their affiliation with Iran.
Houthi's lack of interest in a ceasefire was evident at the UN consultations held in Amman. The group's foreign affairs official, Hussein al-Ezzi, downplayed the importance of the talks, describing the efforts as "human development workshops."
Ezzi said in a tweet that it is unfortunate that the envoy retreated his previous announcement before the Security Council regarding his intention to launch consultations.
He added: "I thought they were real and practical consultations, and suddenly they turned into something like human development workshops and brainstorming exercises. The purpose was to mobilize the largest number of female activists for purely informational purposes."
Meanwhile, observers of the Yemeni issue believe that the international efforts to reach a comprehensive vision that satisfies all Yemeni parties, including the Houthis, are far from attainable.
Yemeni political analyst Wadah al-Jalil told Asharq Al-Awsat that the UN envoy believes the conditions are now ready to progress in the Yemeni crisis.
He explained that the major powers are engaged in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which could lead to easing pressure on Yemeni parties, allowing the envoy to build a peace plan and start implementing its general rules.
Jalil believes Grundberg expects the warring parties to present their perceptions and demands and create an environment for understanding. However, the analyst believes it is not possible or realistic.
The analyst considers that reducing international pressure will push Houthi to more intransigence, allowing them to gain time and impose a fait accompli. They will intensify their efforts in mobilizing fighters and funding their war.
The Houthis carried out drone attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia amid the global energy crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, said Jalil, noting that the militia is sending a message to the world that it must submit to them and acknowledge their presence.
He believes that the Houthis expect Russia to be supportive and will back them in the Security Council in defiance to the West and the international powers against its war with Ukraine.
Jalil concludes that the UN envoy's efforts are useless, especially since the Houthis announced the talks were futile, and following their attempts in targeting one of the most important sources of global energy.
Earlier, UN Envoy concluded the first week of his consultations in Amman with leaders from the General People's Congress party and delegations from Islah, the Yemeni Socialist Party, and Nasserist Unionist People's Organization.
The consultations discussed ideas for his framework, including a multi-track process that aims to chart a path towards a sustainable political settlement to the conflict.
The Special Envoy explained that the consultations intended to gather, in a genuine way, ideas, views, and suggestions on immediate and long-term priorities for the political, security, and economic tracks.
"The conflict, which is soon entering its eighth year, continues to exacerbate the suffering of civilians, threaten regional stability, and undermine the prospects of a peaceful solution," Grundberg said.
"There is an urgent need to establish an inclusive political process that reverses this destructive trajectory and provides opportunities and space for dialogue at multiple levels."
The Special Envoy will continue his planned bi-lateral consultations with other parties and stakeholders in the coming weeks. Next week, he will meet in Amman with representatives of the Southern Transitional Council, the Inclusive Hadhramout Conference, the General People's Congress, security and economic experts, and civil society.
