Arafat Hasan of DOT
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia urged Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to “embark on the path” toward a political solution to the country’s conflict, according to a report published Friday.
The two leaders welcomed Thursday’s agreement reached at the UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden for a cease-fire and troop withdrawals by both sides from the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
“The Kingdom remains engaged in the search for a political solution in Yemen that guarantees the security and stability of the country,” a statement reportedly from the king and the crown prince said.
Prince Mohammed had exerted “great personal efforts” to ensure the success of the talks in Sweden, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said.
A “robust and competent monitoring regime” was required in Hodeidah to oversee compliance with the cease-fire, UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Friday.
Such a regime “is not just essential, it is also urgently needed and both parties have told us they would very much welcome it and indeed depend on it,” Griffiths said. UN officials were already planning its deployment, which will require a Security Council resolution,.
-Source: Arab News