Current peace initiatives offered to Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents are as realistic as they can get, according to former Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Alyemany.
“There is no magic recipe for a solution in Yemen,” said Alyemany, who is also a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
While criticizing Washington’s current policy on Iran, the veteran diplomat pointed out the presence of some contingencies to finding a settlement for the ongoing Yemeni war.
“It depends on the convergence of the will of all Yemenis, political parties, civil society, and the new forces that resulted from the conditions of the protracted Yemeni war,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“If all these forces do not come together to stop the vicious cycle of violence and end the fighting, no one in the world will be able to stop this crazy war,” said Alyemany, emphasizing that unilateralism in conflict resolution is inefficient in Yemen’s case.
“Yemen’s millennia-spanning history is linked to compromises and conciliations,” he stressed in a remark against Houthi militias and warlords seeking to extend the war for personal and strategic gains.
Regarding international community initiatives put forth by the UN, Saudi Arabia, and the US, Alyemany said he believes they are identical in terms of “ending the war and entering into final settlement negotiations.”
Alyemany also explained that future proposals by international envoys would most likely remain within the margins of already tabled settlement packages.
As for the ongoing Houthi offensive against the northeastern Yemeni governorate of Marib, Alyemany condemned the campaign and said it was a “futile jab” at controlling the oil-rich basin.
“Can’t Houthis see the level of killing witnessed during the past two months?” he questioned.
Describing the attempt to control Marib as a nihilistic venture, Alyemany revealed that battles there have killed at least 6,000 Houthi combatants.
“Is this what they want… a homeland built by skulls and blood?!” he exclaimed.
