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UN chief calls on all Yemeni parties to engage in consultations

Xinhua, June 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Saturday reiterated his urgent call on all Yemeni parties to engage in consultations to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, starting June 14, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the readiness of President Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi, as communicated to his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in Riyadh, to send a delegation to participate in United Nations-facilitated Yemeni-Yemeni consultations in Geneva starting on 14 June," said the statement. "He is equally pleased that delegations of Yemeni parties from Sana'a have communicated their commitment to attend the consultations to the Secretary-General's Special Envoy."

Ban reiterated his urgent call on all Yemeni parties to engage in these consultations in good faith and without pre-conditions in the interest of all Yemeni people. He also stressed his call for a renewed humanitarian pause in order to allow humanitarian assistance to reach all Yemenis in need. This could also help create an atmosphere that is more conducive for peaceful dialogue.

"Such assistance is of paramount and pressing importance because the suffering of the Yemeni population, as a result of the continued conflict, is increasing dramatically," said Ban in the statement.

Ban appealed to the international community and to the countries of the region in particular, to do everything in their power to reduce the civilian suffering in Yemen and to contribute to United Nations' efforts in this regard.

Yemen has been mired in political gridlock since 2011 when mass protests forced former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. Saleh and his key aides were granted immunity after he signed a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal that enabled his deputy Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi to win the presidential election as the only candidate. Mansour Hadi was inaugurated as president of Yemen in February 2012.

The Gulf countries have tried to push for comprehensive peace talks between all Yemeni parties since the Houthis seized control of Sana'a in September 2014 that forced President Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi to move his administration to Yemen's southern port city of Aden. Hadi reportedly fled Yemen as Houthi forces advanced on Aden on March 25.

Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, with the aim of reinstating Hadi's government. Endite