Minor Breakthrough on Fifth Day of Yemen Peace TalksTuesday, 11 December, 2018 - 06:45 Rimbo (Sweden) – Badr al-Qahtani
The fifth day of Yemen peace consultations in Sweden Monday witnessed a minor breakthrough over the prisoner file, but disputes remained over the United Nations’ proposal over the port city of Hodeidah.Yemeni government sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that its delegation received from United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths a proposal on a comprehensive solution. This was the third such document he presents to the warring parties meeting at the Johannesberg Palace north of Stockholm. The other two tackled Taiz and Hodeidah.The government delegation official in charge of the prisoner file Hadi Hej revealed that a swap will be held soon and completed next month.Meanwhile, Hodeidah remained a sticking point between the delegations of the legitimate government and Iran-backed Houthi militias.The UN proposed that the Houthis withdraw from the city in return for a halt in military operations and formation of a joint security military committee. It also proposed sending monitors to the port and others in the province to help in the implementation of the agreement.The government delegation, however, expressed great reservations over the long-term stay of any forces, explaining that it infringes of national sovereignty.Head of the government delegation Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani stressed that Hodeidah must be under government control.“The concept of peacekeeping or some sort of permanent presence of the UN - boots on the ground - or making the city as neutral is something that we will never accept,” he told Reuters.The city should be placed under the control of the interior ministry’s police forces as a matter of sovereignty, he added.Griffiths meanwhile, hoped that a new round of consultations will be held in early 2019, revealing that they will focus on security arrangements.Professor in international relations Dr. Wissam Basounda told Asharq Al-Awsat that optimism prevailed during the latest talks, saying that Griffiths was eager to ensure the success of this round of consultations.This round focused on humanitarian issues that affect the daily lives of the Yemenis, she said. This includes ending the siege of Taiz and reopening the Sanaa International Airport.On the prisoner file, she said that “major steps” were taken to resolve this issue. All that remains is to reach an agreement over the mechanism to implement the swap.
