Lebanon ready to host dialogue between feuding Yemeni parties

Lebanon's Speaker Nabih Berri said Friday that his country is ready to host the dialogue between the feuding Yemeni parties as "it is the only way to end the crisis."

In an interview with the pan-Arab "Sharq al-Awsat" newspaper, Berri asserted that "I suggested lately that the Sultanate of Oman takes the initiative to propose a solution to the Yemeni crisis, as the Sultanate is on good terms with the various Yemeni parties."

He also expressed his support to the Saudi proposal for dialogue to be hosted by any of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC)."

He added "the crisis in Yemen would endanger the security of the Arab Gulf and this is what we all want to avoid, as any further escalation could lead to the unknown."

He stressed that "in case Oman as location is refused by any of the parties, let them engage in dialogue anywhere, in Riyadh, Muscat or Algiers, the important thing is they engage in dialogue as what is at stake is saving Yemen."

Berri said that the crisis in Yemen affected the Lebanese government that was on the verge of a crisis, but the efforts of the local parties led to calming down the situation since this government is running the country in the absence of the president."

A Saudi-led Arab coalition has been launching air raids against the Houthis rebels in Yemen in an effort to restore the legitimate cabinet of Yemeni President Mansour Hadi. Endit