The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, expressed frustration on the failure of his efforts to secure a ceasefire.
“The United Nations is seeking a nationwide ceasefire, lifting restrictions on the free movement of people and essential goods to and from Yemen,” Griffiths told a news conference at Sanaa Airport before leaving Yemen on Monday, according to Russia Today. The resumption of the political process has been mediated between the parties.
“We have consulted with Yemeni and Saudi officials in Riyadh several times about the ceasefire plan, and even in Muscat,” he said. Yesterday, Sunday, I also talked about this with Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
The UN special envoy for Yemen added: “It is unfair to deprive Yemenis of the hope that their suffering will end in the near future, just as it is unfair to deprive them of the opportunity to have a brighter future.” Yemen cannot be ruled solely on the basis of military hegemony or foreign intervention.
Asked about when serious talks on the Yemeni peace process would begin, Griffiths said: “No one can be more disappointed than I am.” We spent a year and a half doing things that are relatively easy to describe, including the ceasefire, the opening of Sanaa airport, the opening of the ports of Hodeidah, and the resumption of a long-delayed political process.
“Let me be honest with you,” he added. Sometimes we make good progress. We expect success when we reach an agreement and then the war happens and one side or the other thinks it will be more profitable on the battlefield; So he does not want to end the war. Our simple demand is to stop the war. End the conflict. Make peace for Yemen and make Yemen a place for the Yemeni people.
Yemeni National Salvation Government officials say the Saudi coalition opposes lifting the siege and halting its aggression against Yemen by linking military issues to humanitarian issues.
