Mekhlafi: Disarming Insurgents is Essential for Peace in Yemen

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi speaks to the media after the Yemen peace talks in Switzerland in Bern December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich

A meeting of foreign ministers and chiefs of staff of the Arab Coalition to Support Yemen’s Legitimacy is scheduled to take place in the Saudi capital next week to discuss a number of issues, including  the situation on the ground and pushing the Yemeni peace process forward.
 
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi said that his government would stress during the upcoming meeting its commitment to peace, especially in light of the latest international proposals that were approved by the Yemeni authorities.
 
He added that Yemen would provide a full explanation of the problems caused by the coup and the situation on the ground, underlining the need to force the rebels to disarm, to consolidate the legitimate authority and to curb Iran’s influence in the country.
 
While noting that his country calls for more efforts at the humanitarian and relief levels, he said that the Yemeni government would express its appreciation and thanks to brotherly countries within the coalition for all the work achieved to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
 
 “We are at a turning point, in which much has been achieved in the last period in favor of the restoration of the state, putting an end to this coup, and strengthening the presence of the Yemeni government across the Yemeni territories. We are in a new phase seeking to realize greater and wider victory, especially that the Arab coalition has achieved a lot on the ground and in the political process,” Al-Mekhlafi stated.
 
For his part, Maj. Gen. Taher al-Aqili, Yemeni Chief of Staff, said that the upcoming meeting in Riyadh would touch on all the topics related to the war in Yemen, including the situation on the ground.
 
“We will talk in the meeting about everything we know, because the main objective is to achieve security and local stability,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
 
The Chief of Staff confirmed that all indicators were in favor of the legitimate government and the Arab coalition forces on all fronts.
 
“There is a clear retreat by the rebels,” he said. “We are waiting for a political decision to wage military actions to liberate the remaining cities under insurgent control.”