The head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, has called on European officials to put more pressure on the Houthi militias to push them toward the path of peace.
Yemeni official sources stated that Alimi met in Riyadh with the assistant Secretary-General of the European Union, Enrique Mora, and the EU deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department, Carl Hallergard.
According to Saba news agency, the meeting reviewed recent developments in Yemen, the ongoing efforts to renew the humanitarian truce, and the needed European pressure to push the Iranian-backed Houthis to positively engage in the peace process.
The two sides also discussed the role of the EU in supporting the reforms led by the Presidential Leadership Council and the government to improve services and alleviate the human suffering of the Yemeni people.
On Monday, Alimi met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who emphasized the support of the Saudi-led coalition to the Council, and all efforts deployed to achieve security, peace and stability in the country.
Yemeni and Saudi official sources said that the meeting touched on the efforts of the United Nations to extend the truce and alleviate human suffering, as well as the future steps required to deal with potential changes.
Saudi support for the Council and Yemeni demands for the Europeans to put more pressure on the Houthis come as the pro-Iran group continues to reject the UN plan proposed by envoy Hans Grundberg to extend the truce.
In related news, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak met on Monday in Riyadh with US Ambassador Steven Fagin, to discuss “recent developments and the repercussions of the Houthi militia’s obstruction to the efforts to extend the UN truce.”
The Yemeni foreign minister described the terrorist threats launched by the Houthi militias to target oil companies and civilian oil facilities, as “a dangerous escalation, the effects of which will not only damage the Yemeni infrastructure and economy… but will expand to reach the region and international energy supplies.”
“Such terrorist threats and actions call for a firm and resolute stance from the international community,” he underlined.
