Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi underscored the unity of the PLC, saying it was more united than ever.
In an address from the interim capital Aden on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, he stressed that the Council was united over its “central goal” of restoring state institutions and peace and achieving legitimate spirations.
Al-Alimi had returned to Aden from the Saudi capital Riyadh where he had held a series of meetings aimed at launching a comprehensive peace plan. He is accompanied by PLC member Aidarous al-Zubaidi.
Al-Alimi added that a year since the formation of the PLC, the Iran-backed Houthi militias are still counting on its division.
“They will be proven wrong,” he stated, saying the Council will remain united and determined to fulfill its duties during the transitional period in line with the agreed national, regional and international references.
Furthermore, he highlighted the PLC and government’s efforts in accelerating growth and launching dozens of service projects that will be completed in various liberated provinces.
He hailed in this regard the Saudi efforts aimed at pushing the militias to renew the nationwide truce and ceasefire and kick off a comprehensive UN-sponsored political process.
Al-Alimi lamented, however, that the Houthis continue to stall and refuse to respond to peace efforts. Rather, they aim to exploit them for political gain and “misleading propaganda.”
“In order to liberate peace from such narrow interests, populist speeches and false victories, we must be diligent and hold on to hope and the pledge of peace,” he declared.
“We must confront the lies with the truth,” he stressed.
Moreover, he accused the Houthis of sparking the war and choosing to carry on with it in total disregard of the suffering of the people and their hopes for peace, security, stability and freedom.
He added that the PLC has made “necessary” concessions to ease the suffering of the people and facilitate the efforts of regional, international and UN mediators.
Al-Alimi noted the recent prisoner exchange between the legitimate government and Houthis, saying it could not have been possible without the flexibility shown by the government’s negotiations team, Saudi Arabia, UN envoy and International Committee of the Red Cross.
He vowed to spare no effort in ensuring the release of the remaining detainees held by the Houthis.
