Yemen Debates the Presidential Leadership Council

A meeting of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council led by Rashad al-Alimi (Saba)
A meeting of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council led by Rashad al-Alimi (Saba)
TT

Yemen Debates the Presidential Leadership Council

A meeting of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council led by Rashad al-Alimi (Saba)
A meeting of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council led by Rashad al-Alimi (Saba)

Yemen will never return to its pre-war status quo, and the alleged good intentions of the Houthi militias can’t be relied upon, former Yemeni deputy foreign minister Mustapha Noman told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Noman said Houthis possess elements of power that enable them to impose their conditions.

The government failed to create a model accepted by the people, and the Presidential Leadership Council has not been able to give people hope after 120 days in power due to lack of improvement in services and security, said Noman, adding that the situation must be swiftly dealt with.

Noman is not the only official to criticize the Council, a group of independent Yemenis who do not execute any governmental work.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Yemenis should realize the international and regional communities are preoccupied with other issues.

The current truce can be used to start serious talks about consultations or negotiations, said Noman, warning that the human tragedy produced by the prolonged war will increase, and the country will go into further divide.

A Yemeni source expressed similar remarks, saying Yemen needs first to secure the areas where the government and the Council operate.

He indicated that security should be a priority on the path to building a safe model for all Yemenis.

The formation of the joint security and military committee was at the forefront of the achievements, said the source, adding that presenting its vision of integrating the armed and security forces under a unified national administration may take a few months.

The source said that the only guarantee to move forward in building the model is to secure law enforcement, including anti-corruption officials, reform leaders, businessmen, and investors.

However, the source preferred to stress that the changes made by the Leadership Council in the government and the judiciary are related to the comprehensive trends to improve government administration, expand the base of partnership in decision-making and implementation, and rationalize it with all local, regional, and international forces and partners.

Improving the cabinet’s management, sharing expertise with the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and protecting the consensus among forces against the militias backed by the Iranian regime are outstanding achievements, said the source.



European Allies to Meet over Syria, Says Italy’s Foreign Ministry

 Passengers wear adopted flags by the new Syrian rulers at the arrival terminal of Damascus airport, as Qatar Airways becomes the first international airline to announce the return of international flights at Damascus airport after 13 years of its suspension, in Damascus, Syria, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Passengers wear adopted flags by the new Syrian rulers at the arrival terminal of Damascus airport, as Qatar Airways becomes the first international airline to announce the return of international flights at Damascus airport after 13 years of its suspension, in Damascus, Syria, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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European Allies to Meet over Syria, Says Italy’s Foreign Ministry

 Passengers wear adopted flags by the new Syrian rulers at the arrival terminal of Damascus airport, as Qatar Airways becomes the first international airline to announce the return of international flights at Damascus airport after 13 years of its suspension, in Damascus, Syria, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Passengers wear adopted flags by the new Syrian rulers at the arrival terminal of Damascus airport, as Qatar Airways becomes the first international airline to announce the return of international flights at Damascus airport after 13 years of its suspension, in Damascus, Syria, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Foreign ministers from Italy, France, Germany, Britain and the United States will meet this week over the situation in Syria, Italy said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will preside over the meeting Thursday with his European and US counterparts, the ministry wrote in a statement.

The US Department of State had announced Monday that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken would meet European counterparts, calling it an occasion "to advocate for a peaceful, inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition".

Opposition forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive last month after 13 years of brutal war, with Western powers cautiously hoping for greater stability in Syria.

Italy's foreign ministry said Tajani sought the meeting "to take stock of the situation in Syria one month after the fall of the Assad regime".

On the agenda is the work of Syria's transitional government and the challenges posed by an upcoming national dialogue conference, it said.

Also to be discussed are the drafting of a new constitution and Syria's economic recovery.

In Rome, Blinken will join US President Joe Biden as he pays a farewell visit to Italy's capital that includes an audience with Pope Francis.