05 June 2018•Update: 05 June 2018
By Mohamed al-Samei
SANAA
UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths on Tuesday said he had conducted “fruitful” meetings with leaders of both Yemen’s Houthi rebel group and the General People's Congress (GPC), which was led by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh until the latter’s death last year.
Griffiths made the remarks at a press conference held at Sanaa’s international airport on Tuesday before setting out for Jordan after a four-day visit to Yemen.
The UN envoy told reporters that he had held “fruitful meetings” with Houthi leaders and GPC officials regarding a proposed peace roadmap that he plans to present to the UN Security Council later this month.
Griffiths said he had been “encouraged” by his conversations with Houthi leaders and officials of Yemen’s Aden-based government.
He added, however, that several important issues still required resolution, including the humanitarian aspect of Yemen’s ongoing conflict and the continued closure of the airport in Sanaa to commercial flights.
The UN envoy also voiced concern over the humanitarian consequences of a recent attack by government forces on Yemen’s western Al-Hodeidah province.
“The UN is working hard to push the political process forward and resume stalled peace talks,” he said.
