Houthi spokesman says they are ready for good relations with Saudi Arabia

SMA NEWS – Riyadh

Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, said the militia are ready for good relations with Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya TV reported.

Abdul-Salam said they need to reopen ports and airports and that they have informed the Omani mediator of their views on the Saudi initiative in Yemen.

On March 22, Saudi Arabia has launched a wide-ranging initiative to bring peace to Yemen, deliver aid to its people and end the country’s six-year war.

The plan calls for a nationwide cease-fire supervised by the UN, the reopening of Sanaa airport, and new talks to reach a political resolution to the conflict.

Restrictions on the Red Sea port of Hodeidah would be eased, allowing access for ships and cargo. Income from the port, including taxes, would go to the central bank in Hodeidah in accordance with the Stockholm agreement.

The Saudi peace plan was widely welcomed across the region and the world, and was immediately supported by Yemen’s government, which blamed the Houthis for the failure of previous initiatives.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber said  there were positive signals from the Houthis regarding the Kingdom’s initiative to end the war in Yemen that was announced on Monday.

“There is an opportunity to advance the interests of the Yemenis above any ambitions,” he said.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN welcomed any rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

“We’ve been very hopeful that there would be an improvement in relations between the various parties,” Farhan Haq said.

“Martin Griffiths is in touch with all parties and we’ll see what can be done to help bring the parties closer together and get to the resolution of this conflict,” Haq said.