United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths met on Saturday and Sunday with officials from the legitimate government to receive their approval on his final draft to the “joint declaration.”
The officials informed him that they are committed to the three references, which they say are necessary to achieve any progress in UN-sponsored peace with the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
The officials also expressed the government’s clear disappointment with the UN and international community’s lenient approach with the Houthis that have recently escalated their attacks in the Marib province. Such actions demonstrate that the militias are reluctant to embrace peace or de-escalate the situation.
Despite the ongoing pressure by Griffiths on leaders of the legitimacy, the government still has major reservations over several points in the draft joint declaration, Yemeni sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The declaration calls for a comprehensive ceasefire, kicking off humanitarian and economic measures and a return to negotiations to reach comprehensive peace.
Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Burkani stressed during a meeting with Griffiths the need for the UN and its envoy to take “serious steps towards achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the three references.” The references are the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the national dialogue and UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2216.
The speaker told the envoy that the situation in Yemen “can no longer tolerate more leniency towards the Houthis or silence from the UN and international community.”
“Peace efforts are being confronted by Houthi intransigence and their widescale war in Marib and al-Jawf,” he remarked.
For his part, Griffiths said efforts were underway with all parties to complete the joint declaration in coming days, revealed official Yemeni sources.
The envoy met on Sunday with caretaker Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadrami, who condemned the Houthis’ ongoing military escalation in Marif and al-Jawf and their firing of ballistic missiles at residential areas.
Moreover, he said the militias were taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement in the Hodeidah province to recruit more children to their ranks and send them to the battlefronts in Marib and al-Jawf.
Official sources quoted him as informing Griffiths that the Hodeidah agreement was “futile”. He also urged the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and condemn the Houthi escalation, especially in al-Marib that is home to more than 3 million people.
