Informed Yemeni sources confirmed on Monday the presence of western diplomatic contacts with officials from the legitimate government to reactivate peace negotiations, halted two years ago after the collapse of UN-sponsored talks to end the Yemen crisis.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that those contacts came in the framework of “preparing the ground for a new round of talks expected to kick off by the new envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, early next month.”
In this regard, several western diplomats and officials renewed on Monday their support to the Yemeni legitimate government for reaching permanent peace and to end the presence of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Those assertions came during separate meetings held Monday by each of Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin-Dagher in the Saudi capital, Riyadh with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag, British Embassy Chargé d'Affaires to Yemen Fiona Walker and US Deputy Chief of mission in Yemen, Ana Escrogima.
During his meeting with the US diplomat, Hadi stressed the importance of enhancing fruitful cooperation between Yemen and the United States in various fields, especially the current circumstances in which Yemen's need for the support of friends is most urgent.
The Yemeni president also highlighted the depth of the bilateral relations and the US support to Yemen and its government, and pointed to the fruitful cooperation in confronting the forces of insurgency and terrorism in Yemen.
For her part, Escrogima said the meeting comes within the framework of cooperation and consultation on various issues of interest to the two countries.
Separately, Bin-Dagher discussed with Walker her country’s support to the government of Yemen for achieving peace and stability and fighting terrorism, drying up its resources and cracking down on its elements.
"All components participated in the National Dialogue Conference, including Southern Movement and Houthis, have signed the dialogue document, which rebelled by Iran-backed Houthi militia and used weapons and waged war on Yemeni people and looted the cash reserve of the Central Bank estimated at $5.2 billion and 2 trillion Yemeni riyal," he said.
For her part, the British diplomat expressed pleasure towards the government's reaction to Aden's incidents and showing self-control for regaining order.
