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Roundup: Peace talks on Yemen end without major agreement

Xinhua, December 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Sunday announced the end of the latest peace talks on Yemen, saying that the parties agreed on framework for the negotiations and will meet again on Jan. 14, 2016 for a new round of talks.

"Yemen's peace will only come through diplomatic negotiations," the special envoy told a press conference held in the Swiss Capital of Bern, adding that the focus in the next few days will be on getting a renewed and sustained ceasefire.

According to the special envoy, the parties came together to develop a framework for detailed peace negotiations based firmly on Resolution 2216 and other relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in order to reach an end of the war and return to a peaceful, political transition.

The parties also made serious progress through identifying a framework for negotiations towards a comprehensive settlement, in addition to defining a set of relevant confidence-building measures relating to prisoner release, improved social services and improving the flow of humanitarian aid to Taizz and other Yemeni governorates, he said.

The special envoy said that under the agreement by the parties, all detainees and prisoners will be released once a permanent ceasefire is in place.

At the same time, the participating delegations further agreed to continue the work of the Coordination and De-escalation Committee set up during this round of the talks and identify a suitable location for it in the region. The Committee will be consist of military advisors from both sides and facilitated by the United Nations.

The special envoy expressed his gratitude to all parties for their presence, and constructive participation engagement in the UN-facilitated peace talks.

He also expressed his appreciation to the participants for their commitment to a cessation of hostilities, which was announced with the start of the talks.

Unfortunately, the UN official added, there were numerous violations of the cessation of hostilities, which "affected the progress of the talks."

Given the centrality of the cessation of hostilities to the success of talks, the special envoy said he has elected to adjourn the talks until the middle of January next year.

In order to ensure adherence to the cessation of hostilities and enable sustainability, the special envoy stressed that additional bilateral consultations will be required in Yemen and in the region in the coming weeks.

"I will continue to work with the parties to identify and implement confidence-building measures that will help build respect for a durable ceasefire and peace process," he noted.

The consultations involve 24 Yemeni representatives and advisors in view of implementing a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, improving the humanitarian situation and returning to a peaceful and orderly political transition.

UN agencies estimate that 82 percent of the Yemeni population are currently in need of some form of humanitarian aid. Endit