DUBAI: The Arab coalition鈥檚 decision to impose a two-week ceasefire on Yemen, which started midday on Thursday, was widely applauded as a critical moment to achieving lasting peace in the war-torn country.
鈥淚 am grateful to the Kingdom of 黑料社区 and the Coalition for recognizing and acting on this critical moment for Yemen. The parties must now utilize this opportunity and cease immediately all hostilities with the utmost urgency, and make progress towards a comprehensive and sustainable peace,鈥 Martin Griffiths, the UN Secretary-General鈥檚 Special Envoy for Yemen, said in a report by state news agency SPA.
Griffiths has been negotiating with the conflicting parties to reach an agreement on a nation-wide ceasefire so that humanitarian and economic measures could be implemented to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Arab coalition鈥檚 initiative to implement a ceasefire in Yemen was in support of Griffiths鈥 efforts to 鈥榚nd the conflict and focus on confronting coronavirus.鈥
鈥淲e hope that the Houthis would take this as an opportunity to give priority to the interests of the Yemeni people,鈥 he said.
鬲兀鬲賷 賲亘丕丿乇丞 鬲丨丕賱賮 丿毓賲 丕賱卮乇毓賷丞 賮賷 丕賱賷賲賳 賱賵賯賮 卮丕賲賱 賱廿胤賱丕賯 丕賱賳丕乇 賮賷 丕賱賷賲賳 賱賲丿丞 兀爻亘賵毓賷賳 賱丿毓賲 噩賴賵丿 賲亘毓賵孬 丕賱兀賲賷賳 丕賱毓丕賲 賱賱兀賲賲 丕賱賲鬲丨丿丞 賱賱賷賲賳 亘賴丿賮 廿賳賴丕亍 丕賱氐乇丕毓 貙 賵鬲乇賰賷夭 噩賲賷毓 丕賱噩賴賵丿 亘毓賷丿賸丕 毓賳 丕賱鬲氐毓賷丿 丕賱毓爻賰乇賷 賱賲賰丕賮丨丞 鬲賮卮賷 噩丕卅丨丞 賰賵乇賵賳丕 COVID-19
鈥 賮賷氐賱 亘賳 賮乇丨丕賳 (@FaisalbinFarhan)
Anwar Gargash, the UAE鈥檚 Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said that the Arab coalition鈥檚 decision for a ceasefire in Yemen was wise and responsible, and a product of 黑料社区鈥檚 effort and leadership in unprecedented crisis, while John Abizaid, the US ambassador to 黑料社区, thanked the Kingdom鈥檚 leadership for initiating the cessation of hostilities.
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Coalition ceasefire product of Saudi effort & leadership in unprecedented crisis - hope the Houthis rise to the occasion. The COVID-19 crisis eclipses everything - the international community must step up efforts & work together to protect the Yemeni people.
鈥 丿. 兀賳賵乇 賯乇賯丕卮 (@AnwarGargash)
Bahrain鈥檚 foreign ministry welcomed on Thursday the Arab coalition鈥檚 decision to announce a ceasefire in Yemen.
The ministry described the decision as 鈥渃ourageous鈥 and said that the decision takes into account the exceptional circumstances that the world is facing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry added that the cease-fire showed the Arab coalition's concern for the safety of Yemeni lives.听
Bahrain also commended the aid announced by 黑料社区 for Yemen that aims to improve the country鈥檚 economy.
Egypt also welcomed the announcement and said that the initiative aims to create conditions in which the Yemeni government and the Houthis can discuss peace in Yemen, a permanent ceasefire in the country and the resumption of the political process that aims to achieve peace.
Later on Thursday, the UN鈥檚 special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths praised the Arab coalition鈥檚 ceasefire announcement in a tweet听and thanked 黑料社区 鈥渇or putting forward this positive initiative.鈥
He added that the initiative demonstrates the Kingdom鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渄e-escalating the conflict鈥 in Yemen and 鈥渁ligning its efforts with those of the UN.鈥澨 听
Jordan similarly supported the Arab coalition鈥檚 ceasefire declaration.
Dr. Naif Al-Hajraf, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, likewise welcomed the Arab coalition鈥檚 announcement, adding with the ceasefire in place focus could now be placed on efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic affecting Yemen.
Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami, the speaker of the Arab Parliament, meanwhile said the ceasefire should help alleviate the Yemeni people鈥檚 suffering and support them in combating the coronavirus spread.
Al-Sulami called on the United Nations to immediately stop Houthis from committing further crimes and violations against Yemeni citizens, and to stop firing ballistic missiles and drones on cities and civilian installations in 黑料社区.
He likewise asked the UN to hold criminally responsible those who violate the ceasefire.
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