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Tag: Omani

  • UN hails progress in Yemen peace talks between Saudi, Omani delegations

    UN hails progress in Yemen peace talks between Saudi, Omani delegations

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    Sanaa: A UN spokesperson said that talks between Saudi and Omani delegations and the Houthi militia in Yemen’s capital Sanaa were “a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions” in the war-torn nation.

    At a briefing in New York, Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, fielded queries from reporters regarding reports of advancements made towards a lasting ceasefire, which would bring an end to Saudi Arabia’s military involvement in a military coalition that has backed the internationally recognised government in its civil conflict with the Houthis, since 2015, reports Xinhua news agency.

    Neighbouring Oman has been involved in peace talks with the warring parties in Yemen, running in parallel with UN efforts, led by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who Dujarric said was continuing to “explore options to extend and expand” a UN-brokered six-month truce, which expired last October.

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    According to Grundberg’s statement last week, the truce is “largely holding” even after expiration, while many elements remain in place.

    The envoy said that greater humanitarian relief, a nationwide ceasefire and a sustainable political settlement “that meets the aspirations of Yemeni women and men” was essential, through a process that brings all stakeholders together.

    Dujarric said that the discussions in Sanaa were “very much welcomed by the Secretary-General” and added that Grundberg continues to be “in close coordination with the regional member states” over resuming the political process, with the hope of avoiding any escalation in the long-running war.

    The spokesperson noted that the UN had not been involved in the talks in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital.

    “We are not involved in every discussion, we don’t need to be,” he said.

    “What is important is that all of these parties work towards the relevant Security Council resolution, the UN facilitated talks, and all signals are, that they are. But we will have to take things one day at a time.”

    News reports suggested that progress in the Oman-mediated talks and brightening prospects of a peace deal for Yemen added to the momentum provided by the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in a deal brokered by China.

    Since the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and aid agencies assisted nearly 11 million each month last year, with lifesaving aid, amid what remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Saudi Arabia frees 13 Houthi prisoners as Omani officials visit Sanaa

    Saudi Arabia frees 13 Houthi prisoners as Omani officials visit Sanaa

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    Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has released 13 Houthi prisoners, in exchange for a Saudi prisoner who was released earlier.

    The release on Saturday came as Omani officials arrived in the Yemeni capital Sanaa as part of international efforts to end the years-long conflict in Yemen.

    The head of the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Abd al-Qadir al-Murtada took to Twitter on Saturday, wrote, “Today, we received 13 Houthi prisoners and detainees who were released by the Saudi authorities in Sana’a International Airport in exchange for a Saudi prisoner whom we released earlier.”

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    He adds, “We hope that this step will be a prelude to the implementation of the deal agreed upon at the end of this week.”

    Al-Murtada said, “The prisoners released today from Saudi prisons are part of the deal agreed upon by the United Nations.”

    Al-Murtada indicated that the rest of the steps related to the full implementation of the deal will be completed next Thursday.

    On March 20, 2023, the Yemeni government announced an agreement with the Houthi group to release 887 prisoners and abductees from both sides, including Saudis and Sudanese, at the conclusion of consultations held in Switzerland regarding the exchange of prisoners between the two parties.

    In March 2022, the Yemeni government signed an agreement with the Houthis under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to exchange more than 2,200 prisoners from both sides, but the process of their release stalled amid mutual accusations of obstructing it.

    During consultations in Sweden in 2018, the two parties submitted lists of more than 15,000 prisoners, detainees and abductees, but no accurate official count of numbers is available after this date.

    Yemen is suffering from a war that began after the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces at the end of 2014, and the conflict escalated since March 2015, after an Arab military coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened to support the legitimate government forces, in the face of the Iranian-backed Houthi group.



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )