DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said that efforts to extend the truce in Yemen are ‘still in place’.
“The Kingdom, the Coalition and the Yemeni government are all keen on extending the truce,” said Prince Faisal during a televised interview with Al Arabiya, which aired on Wednesday.
He added that the Houthi militia keeps proposing new conditions, putting their ‘narrow interests’ above that of the Yemeni people.
The United Nations is pushing for the extension and expansion of the truce, which expired on Oct. 2 after being rolled over twice. The truce reportedly achieved the longest stretch of relative calm in the seven-year conflict.
Tim Lenderking, the US Special Envoy for the war-torn country, headed back to the region on Tuesday to support the UN-led negotiations with all Yemeni parties, according to the State Department.
Meanwhile, Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Saudi Arabia’s support of all efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, when asked about the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
He added that the conflict does not only affect the Ukrainian people, but the rest of the world.
“The [conflict’s] economic consequences impact millions across the world. [Hence], it is important for all of us in the international community to work and find a way to end [the crisis],” he said.
Prince Faisal said the Kingdom believes the war will only end once Russia and Ukraine carry out serious negotiations.
Saudi Arabia’s FM says efforts to extend Yemen truce ‘still in place’
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Saudi Arabia’s FM says efforts to extend Yemen truce ‘still in place’
- The UN is pushing for the extension and expansion of the truce, which expired on Oct. 2 after being rolled over twice
Saudi Arabia announces new financial support to the Yemeni government
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and Supervisor of the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber announced that the Kingdom, under the directives of its leadership, has provided new support to the Yemeni government's budget, aimed at paying the salaries of state employees in all sectors.
In a post on X, Al-Jaber stated that this support complements a package of development projects and initiatives, amounting to SR1.9 billion, announced on Wednesday. The package includes provision of necessary petroleum derivatives to operate power plants, which will contribute to improving the living standards of people in Yemen and alleviating daily burdens on them.
Al-Jaber’s post emphasized, in particular, that all salaries of military and security forces linked to the the higher military committee linked to the Saudi led Coalition will be paid as of Sunday.
The post is likely relate to Several Media reports which have suggested that disgraced former Southern Transitional Council (STC) chief Aidaroos Al Zubaidi — who has now fled Yemen — was taking advantage of military personnel and withholding salaries as means of pressure. Al-Zubaidi is wanted by the Yemeni government for acts of high treason and corruption.
The ambassador emphasized that these steps come within the framework of supporting the Yemeni government's efforts to implement the economic reform program, which aims to achieve financial and economic stability and enhance the state's ability to meet its basic obligations.
