RIYADH: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed its warm welcome for the positive outcome of discussions to reach a road map Yemen, in which the Sultanate of Oman participated. The talks, held in Riyadh, support the peace path in Yemen.
In a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) outlined details of a meeting held by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman with the Sanaa delegation. The meeting underscored Saudi Arabia’s constant keenness to encourage the Yemeni parties to engage in dialogue to hammer out a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations.
The Yemeni envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on ending the eight-year-old conflict in Yemen, sources familiar with the meeting said.
The kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue among all warring parties in Yemen, the Saudi defence minister said on Wednesday after meeting with the delegation.
"I emphasised the Kingdom's support for Yemen and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting dialogue among all parties to reach a comprehensive political solution under UN supervision," Prince Khalid bin Salman said in a post on messaging platform X.
Some progress has been made on the main sticking points, including a timeline for foreign troops exiting Yemen and a mechanism for paying public wages, two sources said, adding the sides would meet for more talks after consultations "soon."
The Ansar Allah delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia last week. It was the first such official visit to the kingdom since the war broke out in Yemen in 2014.
The talks are focused on a full reopening of Ansar Allah-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, payment of wages for public servants, rebuilding efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to quit Yemen. An agreement would allow the United Nations to restart a broader political peace process. — Agencies
