The Swedish envoy to Yemen demands a copy of "Stockholm" for Marib
English - Wednesday 07 April 2021 الساعة 07:21 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:
The Swedish envoy to Yemen, Peter Semneby, said, "The conflict in Yemen needs to be resolved as a result of a broad and comprehensive political process that begins with a ceasefire in all parts of the country."
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Semneby said that the ceasefire is the most important step to alleviate human suffering, and it requires a minimum level of trust between the parties that can be demonstrated by steps from each side to calm the confrontation.
He called for an agreement similar to the "Stockholm" agreement to stop the Houthi attack on the Marib governorate, which he described as "tragic bloody," and said: "The main point is first to save lives, then move from military logic to political logic."
The Swedish envoy continued: "All citizens of Yemen, including the Houthis, will not prosper unless they find a way to share power in a fair and equitable manner, and to create a balanced, mutually beneficial relationship with Yemen's neighbors."
He avoided answering the newspaper's question about his country's view of the Houthi group, and whether it is an extremist group, an armed group, or a political entity, and he responded by saying: “I do not want to classify the Houthis, or any other party in the war; what they show and what they represent is up to them.” But he spoke about the increase in the Iranian role in Yemen, and said, "There is an Iranian footprint in Yemen, and it has increased with the continuing conflict."
Semneby said that his country has had good communication with the Houthis since before the Stockholm talks in 2018, adding: "We continue to talk to them on a regular basis, and we meet with them when the epidemic and other obstacles do not prevent us from doing so. Without giving any details about the contents of these contacts," I can say that we were completely consistent in our messages to everyone who participated in the war. "
