The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its approval of the fruitful results from serious discussions concerning a roadmap to bolster the peace process in Yemen. These talks were led by the Saudi communication and coordination team, chaired by the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Said Al Jaber, and included participation from Oman and the Sana’a delegation, led by Mohammed Abdul Salam Filitah, in Riyadh.
The ministry further detailed that these discussions, held from September 14 to 18, were a continuation of earlier meetings that the Saudi team had with the leadership of Yemen’s Presidential Council and in Sana’a from May 17 to 22, 2023. The outcomes from these talks led to various proposals and options to develop a roadmap agreed upon by all Yemeni parties.
The Ministry also praised the meeting contents between Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, and the Sana’a delegation visiting the Kingdom. The emphasis was on the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Yemen and its people. The Kingdom remains dedicated to encouraging Yemeni factions to engage in dialogue, aiming to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen under United Nations supervision, transitioning Yemen to broader prosperity and sustainable development. This vision aligns with the Gulf region’s developmental aspirations, according to the foreign ministry statement.
Previously, in March 2021, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs had extended an invitation to the Sana’a delegation to continue discussions based on the Riyadh Initiative.
**Reviving the Peace Process**
In related developments, an Omani delegation visited Sana’a last August on a 4-day mission, in line with regional and international efforts coordinated with the UN. These efforts seek to lead towards a more inclusive humanitarian truce, setting the stage for the revival of the stagnant peace process. The United Nations has been pushing for a lasting agreement between Yemeni factions after years of conflict.
UN Envoy, Hans Grundberg, in his latest briefing to the Security Council, confirmed that conflicting parties continue to show willingness to find solutions. However, he emphasized the need to translate this readiness into tangible steps.
Notably, last June, several rounds of Yemeni-Yemeni negotiations took place in Jordan, aiming at a prisoner exchange and reaching a more comprehensive solution to the crisis under UN auspices. Those talks resulted in the exchange of hundreds of prisoners between the Houthi and government forces.
