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Saudis desperately seeking exist from Yemen war : Analyst

Sunday, 13 December 2015 7:54 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 13 December 2015 7:54 AM ]

Saudi Defense Minister Mohamed bin Salman (L) and Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef attend the 136th [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) summit, in Riyadh, on December 9, 2015. ©AFP

Press TV has conducted an interview with Ali al-Ahmed, director of the Institute for the [Persian] Gulf Affairs (IGA) from Washington, to discuss a ceasefire that is planned to take effect on December 14 ahead of talks on the situation in war-torn Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: What do you think about the ceasefire and given that the Saudis have on numerous times violated the truce before?

Ahmed: The Saudi track record in terms of respecting the truce is very bad. They have violated every single ceasefire so far, but I believe this time it’s different. I have seen signs and received reports that the Saudis are basically now looking for an exit from Yemen.

And that’s why they have basically been reluctant to stop these negotiations. It’s very clear that they have spent over 80 billion dollars on this war, they have lost it. And now they are swallowing the poison of defeat.

Press TV: What do you think are the demands of the two sides at the Geneva negotiations?

Ahmed: I think the most important element here is to lift the siege and allow the return to normal in Yemen. Negotiations should be between the Yemeni parties in a country not involved in the conflict such as Germany or Switzerland. That is these are the best locations, I think.

So, the reality on the ground is that most of Yemenis are against Saudi Arabia and the nine-month campaign proved it that there is large support for the government in Sana’a, not for the former president Hadi and his allies.

Press TV: What do you think about the role of foreign countries who have actually helped to bring the two sides to the negotiating table?

Ahmed: There is now growing consensus in New York in the United Nations in the Security Council. The same countries who gave Saudi Arabia, the Saudi monarchy and its dictatorial allies, the license to bomb Yemen, they are now realizing this was a mistake and they are trying themselves to lay the blame on the Saudis. And that’s why, I think, drove the Saudis to accept these talks in Geneva.

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