Statement: Security Council urges all parties in Yemen to accelerate negotiations

The members of the Security Council called for all parties in Yemen, including the Houthis, to adhere to resolving their differences through dialogue and consultation, reject acts of violence to achieve political goals, and refrain from provocation and all unilateral actions to undermine the political transition.

The members of the Security Council welcomed that the legitimate President of Yemen, Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, is no longer under house arrest. The members of the Security Council demanded that the Houthis immediately, unconditionally and safely release Prime Minister Bahah, members of the Cabinet and all individuals still under house arrest or arbitrarily detained.

The members of the Security Council strongly called upon all parties, in particular the Houthis, to abide by the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue conference, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement and its security annex, which provide for a Yemeni-led democratic transition in accordance with resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2201 (2015) and 2204 (2015).

The members of the Security Council welcomed the intention of the President of Yemen, Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi to engage in good faith in the UN-brokered negotiations and urged all parties to accelerate these negotiations to be held in a location to be determined by Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, to continue the political transition in order to reach a consensus solution in accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue conference, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement and its security annex, and to implement it.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed its support for and commitment to the work of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen, Jamal Benomar,  in assisting the parties in reaching consensual agreements in order to resolve the political crisis.

The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of all parties allowing all Yemenis to assemble peacefully without fear of attack, injury, arrest, or retaliation.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.

Follow me on Twitter @NabilAbiSaab