Al-Khubaji Discusses with Office Head of UN Envoy Repercussions of Recent Houthi Escalation and Squandering Peace Opportunities
SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
Dr. Naser Al-Khubaji, member of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), head of the Negotiations Unit, received, on Sunday, at the headquarters of the
Foreign Affairs of the STC, in the capital Aden, Mr. Peter Rice, Head of Office of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
At the meeting, which was attended by Mr. Anis Al Sharafi, deputy director of the General Directorate for Foreign Affairs (GDFA) of the STC and Ms. Hadeel Samir, political affairs officer in the office of the UN Special Envoy in the capital, Aden, they discussed the repercussions of the recent Houthi escalation on the negotiations of extending the truce and endeavours of peace. In this respect Dr. Al-Khubaji indicated that the Houthi militias have been squandering peace opportunities in their terrorist attacks; the most recent of which was the attack on al-Dhaba port for exporting oil in Hadramout governorate, preceded by targeting al-Nashima port in Shabwa governorate, and border fronts with drones.
Dr. Al-Khubaji cautioned against continuing to cajole and make concessions to the Houthi militias over regional peace and security, and international navigation, pointing out that Houthis squandered all the revenues under their control to support and finance terrorist attacks and operations.
Al-Khubaji added that the Houthi militias are heedless of the international laws and UN Security Council resolutions, and have no understanding of the language of dialogue and peace, and that they increase their persistence whenever concessions are made to them. At the same time, he lauded the decrees of the National Defense Council regarding the classification of the Houthi militias as a terrorist group, calling on the international community to unwaveringly support the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) in confronting and curbing Houthis’ terrorism.
Al-Khubaji affirmed that the STC has been making many concessions to preserve peace opportunities to devote itself to confronting the Houthi threat and addressing the economic, service and security conditions in the liberated governorates, highlighting the need to implement all provisions of previous agreements such as the Riyadh agreement and consultations, to avoid an escalation of the popular movement in Hadhramaut before it gets out of control.
Al-Khubaji stressed the importance of empowering and involving women in the comprehensive political process and negotiations for a political solution, after their role was marginalized as a result of the escalating growth of militias, terrorist and extremist organizations and parties.
For his part, Mr. Peter Rice affirmed that the UN Special envoy, Mr. Hans Grundberg, is following the recent developments with deep concern, calling for giving more time to international efforts to make the ongoing negotiations succeed, and to obviate the horrific humanitarian and economic repercussions that may be ensued on Yemen.
