WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 12th September, 2018) The United Nations should not allow another major military battle in Yemen as the parties to the conflict are starting to engage in talks, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Martin Griffiths said during a meeting on Tuesday.
"As the parties resume these formal efforts to make compromise and build trust, it is important that we do not allow large-scale military confrontations [in Yemen]," Griffiths said via teleconference from Amman.
The UN-mediated Geneva consultations on Yemen between the Houthis and the Yemeni government were to start on Thursday. However, the Houthis' representatives failed to show up at the talks, claiming that the Saudi-led coalition, which controls the Yemeni air space, did not allow them to leave and return peacefully. According to the coalition, Houthis were greenlighted to leave on time, but did not use the opportunity.
The envoy said he has called for political consultations on Yemen after seven months of discussions on the situation in the country. Despite Houthis' absence during the consultations in Geneva, the United Nations saw the desire of the both parties to restart the political process, he noted.
He stressed the international community should keep focus on sustaining the very fragile peace, adding that the political process in Yemen will have its ups and downs because of a number of challenges on the ground.
Griffiths said he will visit Sanaa in the near future to engage with the political leadership. The envoy added he looks forward to sitting down with the government of Yemen in Riyadh.
