Yemen Warring Parties Hold First Direct Meeting of Sweden Talks
RIMBO, Sweden (Dispatches) – Yemen’s warring parties held the first direct talks in UN-led efforts in Sweden on Sunday to iron out a prisoner swap, one of several confidence-building measures intended to help launch a political process to end nearly four years of conflict.
Since talks began on Thursday, UN officials have been shuttling between delegations from the Houthi Ansarullah resistance group and the former government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.
The first negotiations in over two years were convened amid pressure from Western nations, some of which supply arms and intelligence to Saudi Arabia and other members of the coalition. The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a major humanitarian disaster.
Mediator Martin Griffiths opened the new round due to last until Dec. 13 by announcing a deal to release thousands of prisoners. The two sides met in a renovated castle outside Stockholm on Sunday to discuss implementation of the deal.
The team from Hadi’s ex-government initially refused to enter the room, saying the Houthis needed to include more senior delegates, but the meeting went ahead, delegates said.
"We are very optimistic about having a breakthrough on the prisoners issue ... we have exchanged some lists in the past but each side needs to update them,” said Askar Ahmed Zayl, a delegate from Hadi’s ex-government.
The parties have yet to agree on trickier issues such as re-opening Sanaa airport and a truce in the port city of Hudaydah, both held by the Houthis, both further confidence-building measures that are the focus of the talks in addition to a framework for negotiations.
"We have three or four days. If we end up without any agreement then this round has failed,” the Houthi’s main negotiator Mohammed Abdusalam told reporters.
"But if we have a draft on some general framework, the reopening of Sanaa airport, the prisoners release, keeping the central bank neutral and a de-escalation in Hudaydah... then this will be a good step to hold another round in one or two months.”
Griffiths praised the parties’ "positive spirit” in engaging constructively and urged for calm on the ground in Yemen, where sporadic battles have continued in the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, a lifeline for millions, and other parts of the country.
Swedish Foreign minister Margot Wallstrom (C-2L), UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths (C-2R) and delegates from Yemeni warring sides attend the opening press conference of the Yemeni peace talks at Johannesberg castle in Rimbo, Sweden, on December 6, 2018.
Since talks began on Thursday, UN officials have been shuttling between delegations from the Houthi Ansarullah resistance group and the former government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.
The first negotiations in over two years were convened amid pressure from Western nations, some of which supply arms and intelligence to Saudi Arabia and other members of the coalition. The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a major humanitarian disaster.
Mediator Martin Griffiths opened the new round due to last until Dec. 13 by announcing a deal to release thousands of prisoners. The two sides met in a renovated castle outside Stockholm on Sunday to discuss implementation of the deal.
The team from Hadi’s ex-government initially refused to enter the room, saying the Houthis needed to include more senior delegates, but the meeting went ahead, delegates said.
"We are very optimistic about having a breakthrough on the prisoners issue ... we have exchanged some lists in the past but each side needs to update them,” said Askar Ahmed Zayl, a delegate from Hadi’s ex-government.
The parties have yet to agree on trickier issues such as re-opening Sanaa airport and a truce in the port city of Hudaydah, both held by the Houthis, both further confidence-building measures that are the focus of the talks in addition to a framework for negotiations.
"We have three or four days. If we end up without any agreement then this round has failed,” the Houthi’s main negotiator Mohammed Abdusalam told reporters.
"But if we have a draft on some general framework, the reopening of Sanaa airport, the prisoners release, keeping the central bank neutral and a de-escalation in Hudaydah... then this will be a good step to hold another round in one or two months.”
Griffiths praised the parties’ "positive spirit” in engaging constructively and urged for calm on the ground in Yemen, where sporadic battles have continued in the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, a lifeline for millions, and other parts of the country.
Swedish Foreign minister Margot Wallstrom (C-2L), UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths (C-2R) and delegates from Yemeni warring sides attend the opening press conference of the Yemeni peace talks at Johannesberg castle in Rimbo, Sweden, on December 6, 2018.