Yemen's President Hadi wins support of Arab leaders
Yemen's President Hadi wins support of Arab leaders
Arab ministers have expressed solidarity with President Hadi after the Houthis seized power in Sanaa in January.
3 min read
Hadi has been president of Yemen since February 2012 [Getty]
Arab foreign ministers have expressed support for Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Ministers described the "constitutional declaration" of the Houthi rebels as a "coup" against legitimacy, according to the Turkish Anadolu news agency.
The remarks were contained in the final communique issued by the 143rd meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on Monday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The foreign ministers reiterated their full commitment to Yemen's unity and respect for its sovereignty and independence. They also rejected all interference in its internal affairs. The ministers said their nations stood by the people of Yemen and their aspirations for freedom, democracy, and social justice.
The statement stressed the need to support constitutional legitimacy in Yemen, represented by President Hadi, and to support what the ministers said were his dedicated patriotic efforts to resume the political process and push for dialogue among all political parties, based on the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the National Dialogue conference, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The foreign ministers categorically rejected what they termed unilateral escalation by the Houthis.
They said the constitutional declaration issued by the Houthi militias was tantamount to a "coup against constitutional legitimacy", and an attempt to impose their will by force of arms on the Yemeni people and their legitimate institutions.
The communique demanded the Houthis immediately release Prime Minister Khaled Bahah from house arrest, and other detained ministers and officials including Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Saidi. The communique also called on the Houthis to withdraw their forces occupying government institutions and hand over weapons seized from military and security bases to the legitimate authorities, in accordance to the Peace and National Partnership agreement.
The Council welcomed the proposal made by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia to host a GCC-sponsored conference in Riyadh, where all Yemeni political parties interested in preserving Yemen's peace and stability would be able to participate.
The Council decided to act urgently at the ministerial level and the level of the Arab League secretariat to put pressure on political forces in Yemen to dissuade them from further escalation, and to push for confidence-building measures to prevent further deterioration in the country. Otherwise, the council warned, the sharp polarisation that could ensue might invite foreign intervention to preserve the Yemeni state, its institutions, and its territorial integrity.
The council called on all Yemeni parties to halt all violence, fighting, and violations, and abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2201 - calling on all sides, in particular the Houthi group, to engage in ongoing negotiations brokered by the UN Secretary General envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar, to reach a solution.
This, the council said, should be in accordance with the reference framework agreed upon with a view to resuming the transition, including ratifying a new constitution, holding presidential and legislative elections, and rebuilding the army and security services on a national basis.
The communique emphasised the need to adhere to the UN Security Council resolution in question, issued under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which extended sanctions imposing travel bans on a number of individuals and groups in Yemen. The council stressed the need to fully implement the requirements of political transition in a timely manner, according to Anadolu.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
Ministers described the "constitutional declaration" of the Houthi rebels as a "coup" against legitimacy, according to the Turkish Anadolu news agency.
The remarks were contained in the final communique issued by the 143rd meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on Monday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The foreign ministers reiterated their full commitment to Yemen's unity and respect for its sovereignty and independence. They also rejected all interference in its internal affairs. The ministers said their nations stood by the people of Yemen and their aspirations for freedom, democracy, and social justice.
The statement stressed the need to support constitutional legitimacy in Yemen, represented by President Hadi, and to support what the ministers said were his dedicated patriotic efforts to resume the political process and push for dialogue among all political parties, based on the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the National Dialogue conference, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
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The foreign ministers categorically rejected what they termed unilateral escalation by the Houthis. |
The foreign ministers categorically rejected what they termed unilateral escalation by the Houthis.
They said the constitutional declaration issued by the Houthi militias was tantamount to a "coup against constitutional legitimacy", and an attempt to impose their will by force of arms on the Yemeni people and their legitimate institutions.
The communique demanded the Houthis immediately release Prime Minister Khaled Bahah from house arrest, and other detained ministers and officials including Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Saidi. The communique also called on the Houthis to withdraw their forces occupying government institutions and hand over weapons seized from military and security bases to the legitimate authorities, in accordance to the Peace and National Partnership agreement.
The Council welcomed the proposal made by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia to host a GCC-sponsored conference in Riyadh, where all Yemeni political parties interested in preserving Yemen's peace and stability would be able to participate.
The Council decided to act urgently at the ministerial level and the level of the Arab League secretariat to put pressure on political forces in Yemen to dissuade them from further escalation, and to push for confidence-building measures to prevent further deterioration in the country. Otherwise, the council warned, the sharp polarisation that could ensue might invite foreign intervention to preserve the Yemeni state, its institutions, and its territorial integrity.
The council called on all Yemeni parties to halt all violence, fighting, and violations, and abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2201 - calling on all sides, in particular the Houthi group, to engage in ongoing negotiations brokered by the UN Secretary General envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar, to reach a solution.
This, the council said, should be in accordance with the reference framework agreed upon with a view to resuming the transition, including ratifying a new constitution, holding presidential and legislative elections, and rebuilding the army and security services on a national basis.
The communique emphasised the need to adhere to the UN Security Council resolution in question, issued under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which extended sanctions imposing travel bans on a number of individuals and groups in Yemen. The council stressed the need to fully implement the requirements of political transition in a timely manner, according to Anadolu.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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