Saudi envoy discusses Yemen peace initiative with his UN counterparts

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, met his counterparts from a number of UN Security Council member states on Thursday to discuss the Kingdom’s latest initiative to end the crisis in Yemen.
The Saudi peace plan, announced by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday, includes a comprehensive cease-fire and the reopening of Sanaa airport. It would also ease restrictions on Hodeidah port and restart the political process in the country.
Al-Mouallimi and the other ambassadors discussed the key issues addressed by the Saudi plan, and the best ways to move forward with the peace process in an effort to support the initiative and its implementation through the auspices of the Security Council and the wider UN.
The Saudi envoy said the initiative reflects the Kingdom’s desire to ensure the security and stability of Yemen and the region, and to secure a real and practical peace deal that can end the crisis and the human suffering it is causing.
He added that Saudi Arabia and the other Arab coalition countries will continue to support the Yemeni people and their legitimate government, undertake their humanitarian role in an effort to alleviate suffering, support all efforts to bring about peace, security and stability in the country, and work to move on to a new phase that develops and improves the lives of Yemenis.
Meanwhile, Al-Mouallimi also met with member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on the Rohingya crisis.
During the meeting, they discussed the impact of the current political developments in Myanmar on the humanitarian situation of the Muslim Rohingya minority.
The OIC Contact Group on the Rohingya at the UN is led by Saudi Arabia and includes the UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Turkey, Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia, and Senegal.