Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yemani said that the roadmap for redeployment in Hodeidah set forth by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen is challenged by first settling the dispute on monitoring areas of withdrawal.
In the first phase of redeploying armed forces from the ports of Salif and Ras Issa, a monitoring team comprising government officials, Houthi representatives, and third-party UN peacekeeping forces are intended to take over.
“This will be implemented as a first stage, followed by discussions on introducing security authorities in Hodeidah and its ports that are in accordance with the Yemeni law,” Yemani told Asharq Al-Awsat.
However, the UN Envoy Martin Griffiths’ office revealed that progress had been achieved towards application of the Hodeida redeployment pact, after four weeks of stalemate.
"Following constructive discussions with both parties, there is significant progress towards an agreement to implement phase one of the redeployments of the Hodeida agreement," said a statement from Martin Griffiths, the UN envoy for Yemen.
"Operational details will be presented to the parties in the Redeployment Coordination Committee [RCC] for endorsement shortly," he added.
Yemani reaffirmed that the roadmap and measures for redeployment presented are the very same put forth by head of the RCC Danish General Michael Lollesgaard last February and endorsed by the internationally-recognized Yemeni President, Abbedrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Houthis, according to Yemani, had rejected the roadmap previously without presenting any justification at the time.
However, Griffiths says the militias have accepted the initiative this time, Yemani said while reaffirming that the Yemeni government will maintain its policy for cooperating with all peacemaking efforts. Nevertheless, Yemani also said that the government will press the international community to get behind the implementation of all conditions listed within the UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement and solicit compliance from Houthis.
Despite the delay of the Houthi militias in the implementation of the agreement, the government insists on implementing all terms stipulated by the Stockholm truce deal, signed last December, Yemani noted.
“We will push forth with these demands until peace is achieved because the government does not accept the failure of the Swedish agreement and we hold all countries fully responsible in this regard,” he said while elaborating on the government’s efforts to bring security and stability to Yemen and the region.
