The two delegations affirm that the meetings held in recent days in the Yemeni capital have concluded in a “positive” manner. The first Red Cross planes with prisoners on board landed at noon in Sana’a and Aden. UN Envoy: It is a moment of “hope” for the country and a “reminder” of the importance of “constructive dialogue”.
Sanaa () – Attempts to feed the peace efforts that have arisen in recent weeks in Yemen. In a double track, partly thanks to the resumption of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran as a result of Chinese mediation. Indeed, this morning, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that operations have begun between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels -supported by Iran- aimed at exchanging some 900 prisoners held on both fronts. To this is added the “positive” conclusion of the new round of talks held in Sanaa in recent days, in which the parties promised to hold new meetings shortly.
The first two flights for the simultaneous exchange of prisoners landed around noon local time: one, in the city of Aden, under the control of the pro-Saudi government, with 35 people; the other in Sana’a, the Houthi-held capital, with 125 prisoners. The ICRC, which manages the exchange process, added that its planes will be used to transport those released, who will be transferred to six cities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
“This liberation operation comes at a time of hope for Yemen,” stressed the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg. The senior official added that the fact is also a “reminder” of the importance of “constructive dialogue and reciprocal commitments”, “powerful tools” capable of achieving “great results”. During negotiations held in Switzerland last month, the parties agreed to the release of 887 prisoners and promised to hold new meetings in May to continue talks to that end.
The talks were the latest in a series of meetings aimed at releasing prisoners in 2022 and 2020 under a UN-brokered pact known as the “Stockholm Agreement.” The regional director of the ICRC, Fabrizio Carboni, alluded to the “deep desire” that these releases “promote a broader political solution.”
A Saudi delegation concluded a new round of peace talks with the Houthi movement in Sanaa yesterday, and referred to the “progress” in the negotiations, although it is still necessary to “continue discussing” to settle the “pending differences”. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, an influential representative of the Houthi politburo, said the talks were “going well.” Another representative of the Houthis, Abdulmalik Alejri, wrote in Twitter that “with determination and honest intentions the remaining difficulties can be resolved.” Talks between the parties, mediated by Oman, focused on the ceasefire, the reopening of the Houthi-controlled ports and Sana’a airport, reconstruction efforts and the withdrawal of foreign forces. However, issues remain, such as the payment of state officials, which for the Houthis includes the armed forces, and the exploitation of oil revenues.
