US State Department and UN Envoys are seeking to persuade Houthis for accepting the Saudi Peace initiative for Yemen
Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, finished his recent visit in the Omani capital, Muscat, where he gathered with the chief of the Houthi foreign affairs, Abdulsalam Fleitah.
Griffiths also gathered with Omani mediators. Actually, this meeting coincided with the US State Department declaration that Special Envoy Tim Lenderking was returned to the region to make pressure on a ceasefire in Yemen.
Indeed, Griffiths’ gatherings and Lenderking’s return came after that Saudi Arabia declared a peace plan for its war-ravaged neighbor. The initiative comprises a comprehensive cease-fire and the reviving of Sanaa airport, with the reduction of limits on Hodeidah port and revives the political operation in the country.
As the international and regional communities are wishing that diplomatic efforts could attract Iran-backed Houthi militias to a peace operation, numerous are hesitant that abut the group’s seriousness in following the Saudi initiative and ceasing the war in Yemen.
Otherwise, political analysts and officials in the UN-recognized Yemeni government are alerting against false optimism towards the commitment of Houthis in peace efforts, indicating that the group’s history is full of indirectness and disrespect to international resolutions.
Although leaked initial reports noting that Houthis have agreed the Saudi initiative with certain reservations, the militia’s leaders have given a contrary declarations.
Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, who is the chief of the Iran-aligned group, promised in his most recent speech that the war enter to its seventh year and refused replying to pressure from world states and the UN Security Council.
In Muscat, Griffiths wanted to inspire Houthis to collaborate with the Saudi peace plan and return to negotiations. Griffiths’ office stated in a tweet on Friday, after the envoy’s gathering with Fleitah: They discussed the urgency to agree on opening Sanaa airport and… Entering a nationwide ceasefire and resuming the political dialogue under a UN framework to pave the way for sustainable peace.
Discussions also focused on easing restrictions on Hodeida, which is the Red Sea port that is a lifeline entry for food, fuel and humanitarian aid entering Yemen.
