The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for the legitimate government in Yemen during a recent UN Security Council session convened to discuss developments in the country. The Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, delivered a comprehensive statement outlining the Saudi vision for achieving sustainable peace and highlighting the security, political, and humanitarian challenges facing Yemen.
Supporting legitimacy and the peace process
At the outset of his remarks, Ambassador Al-Wasel affirmed the Kingdom's full support for the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, and for the legitimate Yemeni government. He noted that this support stems from the Kingdom's commitment to achieving security, stability, and development, thus fulfilling the aspirations of the brotherly Yemeni people who have suffered for many years from the ravages of conflict. This affirmation comes at a critical juncture as the Yemeni crisis reaches a turning point that necessitates concerted international and regional efforts to solidify the ceasefire and advance towards a comprehensive political solution.
The context of the conflict and the importance of regional stability
These statements are of paramount importance given the broader context of the Yemeni crisis, where the United Nations and the international community are striving to transform the fragile truce into a permanent ceasefire. The stability of Yemen is a cornerstone of regional and international security, given its strategic location overlooking international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Therefore, any military escalation or internal destabilization not only affects Yemen but also casts a shadow over the security of the entire region and the global economy.
Rejection of military escalation and threats to national security
In discussing security challenges, the Saudi representative expressed the Kingdom's regret over the recent military movements by the Southern Transitional Council along the Kingdom's southern border, specifically in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra. He described these operations as a threat to Saudi Arabia's national security, as well as undermining security and stability within Yemen and the region as a whole, emphasizing the need to prioritize reason and the supreme national interest.
A humanitarian breakthrough and a call for comprehensive dialogue
On the humanitarian front, the Kingdom welcomed the agreement reached in the Sultanate of Oman regarding the exchange of prisoners and detainees. Riyadh considered this step a glimmer of hope for alleviating the humanitarian suffering of thousands of Yemeni families and a crucial measure for building trust between the conflicting parties, thus paving the way for more in-depth political negotiations.
The ambassador concluded his remarks by noting the Kingdom's response to the Presidential Leadership Council's call for a comprehensive conference in Riyadh, bringing together all southern factions. This conference aims to facilitate dialogue and find just and equitable solutions to the southern issue, while upholding Yemeni unity. Al-Wasel emphasized that cooperation among all Yemeni forces and groups is the only way to reach a lasting solution that ends the conflict and restores stability and prosperity to Yemen.
