Griffiths calls Yemeni parties to resume negotiations
UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths stressed on Friday that there is no alternative to a negotiated solution in the country, calling on all Yemeni sides to offer compromises.
At a two-day consultative meeting with Yemeni public and political figures in Amman, Griffiths said: “This conflict has already claimed too many victims, and it threatens the collapse of the state and the disintegration of the social fabric.”
“Every day that we together lose, translates into immeasurable more effort, time and resources that will be required to rebuild the institutions and infrastructure necessary for a return to civility and a dignified life for the people of Yemen.”
He warned that Yemen could reach a crossroads if no compromises and restraint are made at the military level.
"Yemen is now at a crossroads, either agreeing on a comprehensive mechanism to reduce escalation and resume the political process, or enter a new phase of greater escalation,” said Griffiths.
The UN envoy raised deep concerns about the recent escalations east of Sanaa, which he said might threaten the peace process.
He also warned that warring parties have no time to waste, adding that there is no alternative to the political solution that is reached through negotiations.
“The price paid by Yemenis in this war is very high. Yemenis deserve a better life. Their leaders should answer such demands for peace immediately,” he said.
The envoy said that despite the military escalation in several Yemeni areas, there is still hope for building trust between the two sides.
He said the frontlines, which had been quiet for several months, have been drawn into the escalation with reports of airstrikes and cross-border aerial attacks considerably increasing.
“Last week, as you know, the parties came together here in Amman to implement the first official, large-scale exchange of prisoners, a crucial step toward implementing the Stockholm Agreement and intriguingly the meeting that was held last week was twelve months, a full twelve months later since the one took place before, so the progress on that file has not been rapid,” said Griffiths.
He stressed the need to resume negotiations without pre-conditions.