...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...Martin Griffiths says the warring sides in Yemen are close to a deal on exchanging prisoners as a confidence-building measure ahead of the upcoming peace talks in Sweden, which both sides have promised to attend.
The United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
has received firm assurances from the warring parties that they are committed to attending peace talks in Sweden, the UN envoy told the Security Council Friday.
Griffiths said the UN intends to convene the Sweden talks very soon given the two sides’ "renewed commitment" to work on a political solution to end the war waged by the Saudi-led coalition in 2015 in a bid to push back the Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the
Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is
God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews...
Ansarullah movement and restore to power former Yemeni President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.
"With this in mind, I intend to reconvene the parties shortly and to do so in Sweden. I believe we are close to resolving issues to make this happen," Griffiths said.
"I have received firm assurances from the leadership of the Yemeni parties... that they are committed to attending these consultations. I believe they are genuine."
Griffiths plans to travel to the Yemeni capital of Sana’a next week to finalize arrangements and offered to travel with the Houthi delegation to Sweden after the Saudi-led coalition prevented the Ansarullah delegation from attending the peace talks.
According to the UN envoy, the Saudi-led coalition invading Yemen has agreed to "logistical arrangements" to pave the way for talks including medical evacuations out of Sana’a.
Griffiths announced he was close to reaching a deal on an exchange of prisoners and detainees, in a further confidence-building measure ahead of planned talks.