Russia calls on the United States to reconsider the decision to list the Yemeni Houthis' movement, Ansar Allah, as a terrorist organization, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, said speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Yemen.
"The US decision to recognize Ansar Allah as a terrorist organization can have destructive consequences for the peace process in Yemen, which risk not only complicating the humanitarian situation in the country but also nullifying the UN efforts aimed at launching negotiations between the warring sides," he said. - "Given that this decision has not yet entered into force, we call on the US to reconsider it".
"We are now at a critical crossroads," the Russian envoy added. - "If we make inexcusable mistakes, the eventual settlement will be jeopardized and years of efforts in this direction will be crossed out."
Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, also noted earlier in the meeting that he was deeply concerned about the negative consequences of Washington's recognition of Ansar Allah as a terrorist movement. He expressed his fear that this would prevent the start of negotiations between the parties to the conflict, which the UN has been pushing for a long time.
On January 10, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced his intention to include Ansar Allah (Hussites) on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations. According to him, such a decision "would provide additional tools to counter the terrorist activities" of Ansar Allah, which, according to Washington, is supported by Tehran, and would contribute to progress in overcoming instability in Yemen. Inclusion on the list of terrorist organizations means, among other things, freezing assets in the United States and prohibiting US citizens or companies from doing business with its members.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Zuma \ TASS
Based on materials from TASS