First Visit in 8 Years – Gulf Confirmation of Support for Peace Efforts in Yemen
In a visit marking the first in eight years since 2015, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Bedaiwi, met with the President of the Yemeni Presidential Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, in the temporary capital of Aden, along with several officials. The discussions revolved around enhancing the strategic partnership.
This visit coincided with the visit of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who met with government officials in Aden and Marib.
In February 2015, the former Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, made a visit to the city of Aden shortly after former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi managed to reach the city from Sanaa. This marked the end of his house arrest imposed by the Houthi militias who had seized the capital in the September 2014 coup.
Strengthening the Partnership
According to a statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council General Secretariat, the meeting between Al-Bedaiwi and Al-Alimi addressed “the latest developments in the Republic of Yemen and the significant role played by the Presidential Council and the Yemeni government in enhancing security and stability in Yemen, as well as the strategic partnership between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Republic of Yemen, and regional and international efforts aimed at resolving the Yemeni crisis.”
During the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed the Council’s steadfast position regarding support for the United Nations’ efforts to end the Yemeni crisis through a political solution based on the three references, which include the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, and the implementation of the remaining items of the Riyadh Agreement.
He commended the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in this regard and stressed the importance of continuing and building upon these efforts to preserve the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence of Yemen. He also affirmed the support of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states for the Presidential Council in achieving security and stability in Yemen and supporting its efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to end the Yemeni crisis, allowing the Yemeni people to enjoy prosperity, development, and peace.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Republic of Yemen and its role in activating cooperation between the two sides in all fields.
Meeting with the Prime Minister
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council also met with Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, where they affirmed support and backing for the Republic of Yemen under the constitutional legitimacy represented by the Presidential Council.
During the meeting, they discussed “the latest developments in the economic situation in the Republic of Yemen and the significant role played by the Yemeni government in enhancing security and stability. They reviewed the commitments made by the Gulf Cooperation Council summits regarding the strategic partnership between the Council and Yemen and the achievement of peace, the preservation of Yemen’s unity, and its sovereignty, representing strategic depth and a stability factor in the region.”
Messages of Support and Solidarity
During the visit, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council conveyed messages of support and solidarity and welcomed the international and regional efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution.
He also affirmed support for the implementation of the outcomes of the Yemeni-Yemeni consultations sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council and hosted by the Council’s Secretariat. Additionally, he emphasized continued support by the Council for Yemen in all areas, particularly political, economic, developmental, and humanitarian.
