Several Western diplomats in recent days met with leaders and officials of Yemeni legitimacy as part of efforts to move forward peace negotiations between the government and Houthi militias, according to informed Yemeni sources.
They told Asharq Al-Awsat these Western moves were part of the preparations paving the way for new United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who is expected to assume his position early next month.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced last week the appointment of Griffiths of the United Kingdom as his Special Envoy for Yemen, succeeding Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
A number of Western diplomats and officials reiterated their support for the Yemeni legitimacy efforts to reach peace that ends the coup of pro-Iranian Houthi militias, as well as effort to counter terrorism and achieve development in Yemen.
This came during separate meetings between Yemeni President Abed Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid Ben-Daghr in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Dutch Foreign Trade Minister, Sigrid Kaag, and the acting ambassadors of Britain and the United States.
Hadi stressed the importance of bolstering productive cooperation between Yemen and the US in various fields.
During a meeting with acting US Ambassador to Yemen Ana Escrogima, he highlighted the depth of bilateral relations and US support to Yemen and its government. Hadi pointed to the positive cooperation in confronting the forces of insurgency and terrorism in his country.
For her part, the US diplomat expressed her pleasure to meet the president, which comes within the framework of cooperation and consultation on various issues of interest of the two countries.
During his meeting with Kaag, Hadi pointed to the importance of activating aspects of cooperation with the Netherlands in wake of the war in Yemen.
He renewed his welcome to Griffiths’ appointment, reiterating the Yemeni legitimacy's insistence on achieving peace in accordance to the Gulf initiative, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue conference and the relevant UN resolutions, namely Resolution 2216.
For her part, the Dutch minister expressed that her meeting with Hadi comes "within the framework of Netherlands' support for Yemen and its legitimate leadership, so as to achieve a just peace that Yemeni people deserve," state-owned Saba news agency reported.
Kaag stressed that her country will continue to support Yemen "through the current membership of Netherlands in the UN Security Council."
Ben-Daghr meanwhile discussed on Monday with UK Charge d' Affairs in Yemen Fauna Walker support to the Yemeni government to achieve peace and stability and fight terrorism funding.
