Yemeni Parties Conclude Fourth Day of Peace Talks

The United Nations scrambles to get Yemen peace talks in Geneva moving with both the exiled government and the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.

Kuwait, 17 Rajab 1437/25 April 2016 (MINA) – Yemeni parties held Sunday two sessions of UN-sponsored peace talks on a host of thorny issues, including efforts to bolster up the ceasefire, release the political prisoners and end the arms displays in residential areas.

The talks gathered representatives of the Yemeni government, the General People’s Congress and Ansarullah group in the presence of UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmad, KUNA was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) aas reporting.

The negotiators discussed the implementation of UN Security Council resolution No 2216, the efforts to augment the ceasefire agreement that took force on April 10, and the launching of a peaceful process in Yemen based on the GCC Initiative and the outcome of the Yemeni National Dialogue.

Today’s morning session reviewed the agreement reached last night on forming a ceasefire-monitoring committee made up of a person from each party with a view to deescalating the acts of violence and reporting on any breaches of the truce.

The negotiators approved at the evening session, which got underway at Bayan Palace at 7:00 p.m. (local time) and lasted for an hour, a proposal to condemn the terrorist acts committed recently by Al-Qaeda group in Hadhramaut Governorate.

However, Mane’ Al-Matari, Media Advisor of the foreign minister, said there were differences among the negotiators over the military operations against Al-Qaeda in Hadhramaut.

He said the negotiating teams of the General People’s Congress and Ansarullah deemed the military operations as running counter to the ceasefire agreement.

Al-Matari added that the ambassadors of countries sponsoring the peace settlement in Yemen met separately with every party attending the talks to urge them return to the negotiating table.

The negotiating teams from Sanaa – the General People’s Congress and Ansarullah, had to consult with the leaders of their respective parties before deciding on a final communique.

All negotiators are unanimous on seizing the chance provided by the talks to build confidence, restore security and stability, and create the ground for a peaceful political process in Yemen; they are scheduled to reconvene on Monday. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)