UN still 'positive' as Yemen talks enter second week
The United Nations special envoy to Yemen has expressed optimism about the ongoing round of negotiations between Yemeni warring sides as long drawn-out peace talks enter into a second week.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said on Thursday that a “positive atmosphere” prevailed during talks under way in Kuwait, warning, however, that differences still remain between representatives of the Houthi Ansarullah movement and the camp of the resigned president Abd Rabbuah Mansour Hadi.
“The divergence of views is to be expected in a country witnessing war. It is crucial that all parties make concessions... in order to reach a comprehensive political agreement,” Ould said.
The UN diplomat has held several rounds of talks with the two sides in a bid to get them to approve agenda.
Ould said the delegates have been discussing “the issues related to the withdrawal of armed groups, handover of heavy weapons, resumption of the political transition and the release of prisoners and detainees.” He said the two sides have also been engaged in talks about how they could strengthen a ceasefire currently in force across Yemen.
Sources close to the Hadi delegation said they have proposed a mechanism on how to implement the withdrawal of the Houthis from areas they have captured and who they will start handover of heavy arms.
“We are optimistic over the prospects of an agreement being worked out by the UN envoy,” Mani al-Matari, the press advisor to Yemen's ousted foreign minister, said.
Houthis, however, have insisted that a political settlement should be discussed before any talks on arms handover.
The UN Security Council on Monday stressed that the sides involved in the talks must assign importance to agreeing on a “roadmap” to implement security measures.
More than 9,500 people have been killed in more than a year of military conflict in Yemen as Saudi Arabia, which backs Hadi, has been incessantly bombarding areas under the control of Houthis.
The Saudi airstrikes have destroyed the infrastructure in Yemen as the impoverished nation struggles to cope with shortage of food and basic medications due to Saudi blockade of the Arab country.
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