1st LD: UN Security Council urges Yemeni parties to honor commitments in peace talks

The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged all Yemeni parties to "fulfill commitments" made during the Dec. 15-20 peace talks, stressing that "the United Nations-brokered inclusive political dialogue must be a Yemeni-led process, with the intention of brokering a consensus-based political solution to Yemen's crisis."

The 15-nation UN body, in a statement issued to the press here, "welcomed the participation of Yemeni parties in peace consultations," held under the auspices of the United Nations, and the the council members "expressed their appreciation and reiterated their full support for the efforts of the United Nations and the special envoy of the secretary-general for Yemen.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the commitment of the parties at the talks to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian aid delivery to all affected governorates including in particular Taiz, and called on the parties to respect this commitment in the future, the statement said.

"They encouraged the parties to urgently finalise agreements on the release of all non-combatant and arbitrary detainees and to finalise agreement on a package of confidence building measures."

The peace talks involved 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 estimated that 82 percent of the Yemeni population are in need of humanitarian aid. Enditem