Bahrain welcomes UN-led peace push for Yemen

Agencies | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and its Gulf Arab neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, yesterday welcomed new commitments by Yemen’s warring parties to take steps towards a ceasefire and engage in a UN-led peace process.

The commitments announced by the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, for a “roadmap to support the path of peace” marked the latest effort to end years of war. Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs Ministry renewed Kingdom’s appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations, Saudi Arabia and Oman, valuing their vital role in urging the Yemeni parties to de-escalate for a lasting political solution under the auspices of the United Nations. Riyadh’s foreign ministry encouraged Yemen’s warring parties “to sit at the dialogue table, to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution under the auspices of the” UN.

Oman, which has acted as a mediator in the conflict, also welcomed the development, saying it hopes a deal “will be signed as soon as possible”. The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi-led coalition battling Huthis, commended efforts to streamline a deal on a road map. Fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Qatar thanked the United Nations, Saudi Arabia and Oman for the peace push and urged the warring parties to accelerate an agreement.

Yemen’s warring parties, however, remain at odds over a series of issues, including attacks by the Huthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with war-ravaged Gaza. In a statement on Monday, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government warned of the risks and domestic ramifications from Huthi drone and missile attacks.

They “will lead to an increase in food prices in a country suffering from a humanitarian crisis,” Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said on X, formerly Twitter. He noted the rise in insurance premiums on ships transiting the vital waterway.