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Yemen Quint Meeting Backs Truce Extension

A Yemeni man walks next to his three-year-old daughter in Sanaa (UN)
A Yemeni man walks next to his three-year-old daughter in Sanaa (UN)
    Aden - Riyadh - Ali Rabih and Abdulhadi Habtor
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Yemen Quint Meeting Backs Truce Extension

A Yemeni man walks next to his three-year-old daughter in Sanaa (UN)
A Yemeni man walks next to his three-year-old daughter in Sanaa (UN)

A quint meeting, which included Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, the US and the UK, has affirmed its support for extending the UN-sponsored truce in Yemen as a step towards reaching a permanent ceasefire and achieving a comprehensive political settlement.

While the five nations expressed concern about the continuation of the siege of Taiz, they called on Houthi militias to show flexibility in negotiations.

Apart from open roads immediately, the group stressed on Tuesday that Houthis must allow the use of state revenues, including the revenues of the port of Hodeidah, to pay the wages of civil servants.

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg was warmly welcomed as a guest at the meeting, as was David Grisley, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, to discuss the derelict oil tanker, Safer.

The quint meeting reaffirmed strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, as well as his commitment to support the people of Yemen.

The five nations also hailed the continuation of the truce, which has brought tangible benefits to the Yemeni people since it was concluded on April 2. They stressed the need to maintain and develop this progress, which requires compromise on all sides.

The quint meeting fully supported the efforts of Grundberg to extend and expand the truce on August 2, as well as to fully implement all the conditions of the truce.

It agreed that a final ceasefire and a permanent political settlement should be the end goals of the UN-led process and that such a settlement should be based on previous agreements and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Moreover, the group of five welcomed the continued implementation of the confidence-building measures agreed by the Government of Yemen, including facilitating the delivery of fuel to the port of Hodeidah and the resumption of some commercial flights to and from Sanaa Airport.

They underlined the need to improve the freedom of movement of civilians throughout Yemen, stressing that constructive engagement with the UN is essential to a sustainable solution to the issue of road reopening.

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Arab World

Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
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Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to kick off parliamentary consultations to form a new government.

He assured that it will “not exclude anyone”, but seek “unity and partnership.”

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that President Joseph Aoun is leading efforts to avert a Shiite boycott of the new government after the “Shiite duo” of the Hezbollah and Amal movement, which is led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, refrained from naming Salam for the position of PM during Monday’s consultations.

Their abstention has raised fears that the new government will not be constitutional without the representation of the largest Shiite parties in the country.

Reports have said that the duo may boycott the parliamentary consultations to form a government that Salam will hold on Wednesday.

Sources said the duo may skip the first day of talks, which will conclude on Thursday, to demonstrate its “annoyance” with the developments.

Berri, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “situation is not that negative”. He did not elaborate on the duo’s next steps.

Moreover, Asharq Al-Awsat learned that French President Macron had even intervened to avoid a dispute over the government, holding telephone talks with Aoun and Berri.

Salam’s appointment as prime minister came as a major shock given the large number of votes he won from the parliamentary blocs, compared to his predecessor Najib Mikati and against the will of the Shiite duo. In past years, Hezbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister.

Aoun stressed the need to “avoid placing obstacles in the government formation process.”

Aoun held a meeting with Salam at the presidential palace on Tuesday before later being joined by Berri, who left the palace without making a statement.

After the talks, Salam spoke before reporters to express his gratitude to parliament and the people for entrusting him with the “difficult task of serving Lebanon” and “achieving the people’s dreams.”

“It is time to open a new chapter that is rooted in justice, security, progress and opportunity, so that Lebanon can be a nation of free people who are equal under their rights,” he added.

On the possible boycott of the Shiite duo, he said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. “This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone,” he added.

The formation of a government in Lebanon often takes months due to political wrangling.

Aoun said on Tuesday that Lebanon has a “very major opportunity that we should all seize.”

He received a delegation from the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council.

“Obstacles must not be placed in the formation process,” he urged. “We must send positive signals to the international community that Lebanon can govern itself, carry out reconstruction transparently and build the state that we are all calling for.”

“If one segment of Lebanon is broken, then the whole country will break,” he stressed, saying Monday’s consultations to appoint Salam were a democratic process and that the public interest remains the top priority.

Aoun, who was elected last week, added that he has declined visits from well-wishers over his election “out of respect for the martyrs” who were killed during Israel’s war on Lebanon, which ended with a ceasefire in November.