Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi reiterated that Houthis must commit to the confidence-building measures, including the release of prisoners and cessation of missile launching into Saudi Arabia before embarking on the upcoming round of negotiations being arranged by the new UN envoy, Martin Griffiths.
This came during a meeting held by Hadi on Monday at his temporary residence in Riyadh with his deputy Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdul Malik al-Mekhlafi.
Earlier, Griffiths arrived in Amman, Jordan, and is expected to visit a number of capitals in the Gulf, including Riyadh, where he will meet with leaders of the Yemeni government and political supporters of legitimacy. He will also hold talks with the ambassadors of the countries concerned with the Yemeni issue before heading to Sana’a to meet with Houthi insurgents.
Official Yemeni sources reported that Hadi informed his advisers and senior leaders of the legitimacy of recent national developments.
The Yemeni president accused Houthi militias of not responding to the concessions made by the legitimacy that wants to achieve peace. He also renewed the leadership's keenness on a permanent peace agreement with the militia based on the three relevant references; the GCC Initiative, the outcomes of Yemen's National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council resolutions mainly 2216.
Hadi pointed out that his country is committed to the efforts of the new UN envoy. He accused Houthi rebels of launching the war, which he described as "unfair", to serve Iran's objectives to destabilize the region and neighboring countries.
The meeting with his advisers affirmed the importance of achieving confidence-building measures such as the release of prisoners and detainees and cessation of Houthi missile attacks on Saudi territory. It also reviewed the government's efforts to achieve economic and development stability, supported by the Saudi-led coalition to support legitimacy.
Hadi also received members of Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen established by the Human Rights Council on Houthi atrocities led by Kamel Jendoubi, and including Charles Garraway, former Australian Minister Melissa Parke, and the representative of the OHCHR in Riyadh Farid Hamdan.
Hadi said that the Iran-backed rebels have committed serious violations against unarmed civilians, and ordered the government to facilitate the experts' mission for the sake of accountability.
Earlier, the delegation concluded a visit to Aden and Sana’a where they met the Yemeni parties in preparation for their field work, which will be concluded in a comprehensive report to be submitted in September to the UN Human Rights Council.
In a separate meeting with the US ambassador to Yemen, Matthew Tueller, in Riyadh on Monday, Hadi pointed to the suffering of the Yemeni people under militia control.
The President praised the US role in countering terrorism and extremism, providing relief aid in Yemen, supporting the country's government and assisting in the attempts to bring about peace, according to Saba news agency.
Tueller hailed the wisdom and perseverance of Hadi while being open to peace proposals.
