Saudi Arabia, UK, US & UAE issue joint statement on Yemen
The British government announced that ministers and representatives of the governments of Saudi Arabia, the UK, the US, and the UAE met on September 20 to discuss the situation in Yemen.
In their joint statement, the four countries affirmed their “commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and to stand by the Yemeni people through efforts to end the conflict and the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” according to the Saudi Press Agency, “SPA”.
The Quartet welcomed “the tangible results that the armistice has achieved for the Yemeni people since its inception on April 2, 2022, and the continuation of the implementation of the agreed confidence-building measures, including facilitating the flow of fuel to the port of Hodeidah and the resumption of flights to and from Sanaa airport.”
It also called on the four countries to “implement the pending measures, including the Houthis’ opening of the main roads around Taiz and agreement on a joint mechanism for paying civil servants’ salaries.”
The Quartet condemned “the large-scale military reinforcements of the Houthis and all attacks that threatened to disrupt the truce, including the recent Houthi attacks on Taiz,” in addition to condemning the “recent military parade of the Houthis in Hodeidah, which is a violation of the Hodeidah Agreement.”
The Quartet stressed “support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, to extend and expand the armistice on October 2, 2022, in addition to the full implementation of all the terms of the armistice.”
According to “SPA”, the Quartet agreed that “a ceasefire and a permanent political settlement should be the final goals of the Yemeni-led political process under the auspices of the UN, and that such a settlement should be based on the agreed references and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
They affirmed their support for the Presidential Leadership Council.
The Quartet stressed the “importance of the cohesion of the Legislative Council,” welcoming “the Legislative Council’s commitment to improving basic services and economic stability.”