Arab countries welcome deal between Yemen’s gov’t, separatists
Dubai, Jul 29 (efe-epa).- Arab countries and organizations on Wednesday welcomed a new Saudi-brokered agreement between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the southern separatists in a bid to accelerate the implementation of a ceasefire and a power-sharing deal.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which back the government and the separatists respectively, hailed the “new mechanism” that aims at putting an end to a conflict that broke out a year ago.
The UAE’s foreign ministry expressed its “hopes” that the deal “ends the crisis in Yemen and contributes to its stability and security,” according to a statement published by the state-run WAM news agency.
“The agreement (…) is a positive step towards reaching a wholistic and sustainable political solution in Yemen under the auspices of the UN,” the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan posted to his Twitter account.
United Nations Special Envoy in Yemen Martin Griffiths welcomed the “consensus” between the two parties and the “central role” played by Saudi Arabia as a mediator.
“This is an important step towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Yemen through a Yemeni-led political process under UN auspices,” he added.
The Riyadh-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Cairo-based Arab League and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the new deal after an agreement reached in November reached a dead end.
The separatists declared autonomy in southern Yemen on 26 April, breaking the Saudi-sponsored power-sharing agreement signed in Riyadh in November.
The southerners announced Wednesday that they are renouncing their self-government, after having accepted this new mechanism, which stipulates the renunciation of the autonomy of the STC, a ceasefire between both parties and the formation of a new government with representation of the STC within a maximum of thirty days.
It also includes naming a STC-affiliated governor of the province of Aden, where the headquarters of both parties are located, and the withdrawal of the military deployed in the city.
