Moscow supports Saudi Arabia's proposals for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Yemen and calls on the sides to study them carefully. This was stated in a Russian Foreign Ministry statement distributed on Tuesday.
As explained in Smolensk Square, it refers to an initiative aimed at ending the conflict, which was presented on Monday by the kingdom's Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. "Moscow welcomes these proposals and calls on the opposing sides to study them carefully and comprehensively. We have been and are in favor of the earliest possible termination of the prolonged armed confrontation in the Republic of Yemen and ensuring sustainable stability and national harmony in this country," the Russian diplomatic office said.
The Saudi side put forward a concrete plan that calls for stopping the fighting, reopening the international airport in Sana'a and opening access for ships to the Red Sea port of Hodeida, as well as launching under the aegis of the UN inter-Yemen talks on the future political settlement of the country. "We assume that a comprehensive and long-term solution to this conflict is possible on the basis of adequate consideration of the interests of all leading Yemeni political forces. This presupposes the complete lifting of the sea, air and land blockade of the country's territory as well as taking other urgent practical steps aimed at improving the critical socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the Republic of Yemen," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"We intend to continue to support the relevant efforts of UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths, as well as actively encourage the President of the Republic of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the leadership of the Houthis movement Ansar Allah to show a constructive approach and willingness to compromise in addressing the existing differences," the ministry stressed.
In Yemen, the confrontation between government forces and armed groups of Houthis has been going on since August 2014. It reached its most active phase with the invasion of the country in March 2015 by the Saudi-led coalition. More than five years of conflict have led to the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. According to the UN, more than 24 million Yemenis - about 80 percent of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance, and the number of internally displaced persons exceeds 3 million.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS