Yemen Consultations Make Significant Progress

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
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Yemen Consultations Make Significant Progress

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

The intra-Yemeni consultations, currently underway in Riyadh, have made significant progress in all issues on their agenda.

The consultations kicked off in the Saudi capital on Wednesday and they are being sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

On Sunday, the gatherers discussed the challenges facing the legitimate government and Yemenis and the best ways to address them.

GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher said the government met on Monday with representatives of the six tracks under discussion at the talks.

They first tackled the political track and then the economic and security ones. The remaining tracks are media, social and humanitarian affairs.

The economy is among the issues that most concern the Yemeni people and they will find the needed support from their Gulf brothers, stressed Al-Minaikher at a press conference.

He confirmed that progress has been achieved on all issues, saying the talks have been marked by consensus among the gatherers.

Among the issues discussed was the impact global tensions will have on imports in Yemen, especially in wake of the war in Ukraine and the repercussions on grain production.

Moreover, he added that Yemen "has not and will not accept to remain outside the GCC organization. The country is a main part and natural extension of the Arabian Peninsula."

He said the gatherers were determined on bolstering state institutions, adding however, that no solutions have been reached.

He explained that the gatherers were still at the stage of addressing obstacles and problems, while solutions will be addressed in the coming days.

The consultations are set to conclude on April 7.

Al-Minaikher stated that the consultations were not an alternative to the United Nations negotiations. This is not a platform to exert pressure, rather it is a place to bring together brothers so that they can reach agreement in order to achieve stability in Yemen.

Leader of the national resistance, Tariq Saleh said the consultations were a beacon of hope for all national powers as they confront "the forces of backwardness" - the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

He hoped the consultations will "at least reform the legitimate institution."

He explained: "We have said that the weakness in confronting the Houthis stems from the failure in unifying the forces of the republic and mismanagement of political, economic and military affairs."

"Everyone is in agreement on the need for reform," he remarked.



Saudi Arabia Reiterates Categorical Rejection of Israel’s Ongoing Attack against Palestinians, Relief Agencies

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Categorical Rejection of Israel’s Ongoing Attack against Palestinians, Relief Agencies

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday its categorical rejection of the Israeli forces’ ongoing attacks against civilians and humanitarian and relief agencies.

It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards these violations against the Palestinian people.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The ministers were briefed on the telephone calls Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron.

They reviewed the talks held by senior Saudi officials with their counterparts from different countries, at bilateral and multilateral levels, with the aim of strengthening ties, intensifying efforts to open up new horizons in various fields and achieve aspired goals, and bolstering efforts exerted to tackle global challenges.

The cabinet tackled the outcome of the second meeting of the Saudi-French Ministerial Committee, and the efforts to strengthen cultural, tourism, and economic partnerships between AlUla and Paris, in view of the special relations between their countries and commitment to developing ties in all sectors.

The cabinet commended the outcome of the second meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Cooperation, established under the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council, which underscored the importance of coordination and cooperation on issues of common interest, particularly those related to economic development and international security and peace.

It reviewed the latest regional and international developments, focusing on the situation in the Palestinian territories.

The cabinet reiterated its concern over extremist Israeli statements about imposing sovereignty over the West Bank, and the construction and expansion of settlements.

These actions undermine peace efforts, threaten regional security and stability, and are a blatant violation of international laws and relevant UN resolutions, it warned.

Domestically, the cabinet hailed the support lent by King Salman to the current Riyadh Economic Forum, saying that the recommendations of the 11th session of the forum can be expected to give further impetus to the national economy and bolster the private sector's role in the Kingdom's comprehensive development.

The cabinet recognized the success of the "Cityscape Global 2024" exhibition held in Riyadh, which aligns with national goals and offers promising prospects to the real estate sector. The value of the transactions concluded at the exhibition surpassed SAR230 billion, with sales from local and international developers exceeding SAR20 billion. The exhibition attracted over 172,000 visitors, underscoring the success of the Kingdom's efforts to position itself as a global hub for exhibitions and conferences.

Moreover, the cabinet praised the outcomes of the "Jeddah Declaration", issued during the Fourth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, commending the initiatives and mechanisms that bolster the global commitment to a multifaceted approach in tackling global health challenges and seeking solutions through research, development, and innovation.

The cabinet said the Fourth Edition of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, set for December 3-4, will be geared toward expediting efforts aimed at fostering a more sustainable future. The initiative has had concrete positive impacts on climate and environmental initiatives, helping boost the total capacity of renewable energy sources to over four gigawatts, planting about 95 million trees, and translocating 1,660 endangered animals across the Kingdom.