[17/02/2024 08:23]

MUNICH - SABA
His Excellency (HE) President Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership (PCL) restated that the PLC and the Yemeni Government as committed to peace option, describing the Terrorist Houthi militia's escalation in the Red Sea is intended to escape the peace process, peace requirements and to carry out the Iranian agenda.

In an interview with al-Arabia TV channel (al-Hadath), he said" There are two proposals at present in Arab region. First one, Iran-led scheme aims to spread chaos, terrorism and undermine peace efforts. The second, a strategic proposal promoted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Egypt seeks to establish peace in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian and Yemen".

HE reiterated accusation Iran of pursuing a policy aims to undermine peace efforts in Yemen, threaten international navigation through constantly providing the terrorist Houthi militia with advanced and sophisticated weapons.

The President called on the International Community (IC) to change its manner in dealing with the Houthi militias, stressing that these militias are " a Terrorist-Security-Military proposal, not a political proposal".

The Chairman of the PLC demanded support for the Yemeni government to enforce its sovereignty over all Yemeni territory, restore the state's institutions so that it can exercise its authority to protect the maritime navigation, contribute to establish regional and international security and stability.

The President re-welcomed the Saudi-led efforts, affirming that the PLC will continue to deal constructively with the steps of the road map to establish peace in Yemen, adding " But the Houthis are constantly eluding the peace process, creating excuses to do so".

He noted that the ongoing terrorist attacks in the Red Sea and the threats to the international maritime navigation is one of the Houthis' means to elude the peace process.

He said" We had long verified the Houthis several times, they proved that they never honor any agreement, however, we do consider the peace is a Yemeni interest, it is the best interest of all Yemenis, will put an end of their humanitarian suffering".

He added" Peace must be based on the well-known references including the UNSCR no 2216, accordingly, we are in favor of the peace, the ball now is in the militias' playfield".

HE made it crystal clear that Iran doesn't want peace neither in Yemen nor anywhere else. He argued that if Iran really wants peace, it will have to stop transferring advanced weapons to the Houthis. To prove his argument he said" Unfortunately, following the Saudi-Iranian agreement to de-escalate tension in the region, the International navy forces managed to seize several ships laden with numerous advanced weapons from Iran en route to the Houthis".

In this context, he pointed out to the Americans announcement two weeks ago that they seized a ship carrying advanced weapons including remote- controlled vehicles operate under water.

HE viewed this matter is dangerous" Therefore, we want Iran to practically prove that it really wants peace in Yemen and the region through its actions not words".

He emphatically emphasized that " Peace for the Yemenis is life and war is death, Houthis' slogan is Death".

He said" This group doesn't believe in peace, its slogan starts basically with the word "death", yet we have continued to believe that peace is the option for us, and it is still the path that is in the best interest of our Yemeni people, it will bring security and stability for us and the region, the maritime navigation in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea".

He criticized the IC's manner when it comes to dealing with the Yemeni file over the past period, as many countries worked on blocking the Yemeni government's efforts and Arab Coalition's as well to put an end of these militias' control over the state's institutions. He noted that the Yemenis paid high prices due to this passivity by the IC and its tolerance with these militias that went too far to identify with them".

The Chairman of the PLC explained that the IC has used to view the Yemeni crisis as it is a political issue, whereas it is not.
He noted that this point is differed nowadays, saying the IC has come to realize that the political rapprochements with terrorist militias can never produce desirable outcomes, stability in Yemen nor the region.

HE stated that the IC finally has taken a clear military approach because unfortunately the political rapprochements don't work with these militias.

He said" We have been trying with this Group "THouthis" since 2011 to engage them politically, whether through National Dialogue Conference or the so called" Peace and Partnership Agreement" or through negotiations that held in Bern, Geneva and Kuwait, but those political rapprochements the Houthis were using as a chance to re-build their military capacities, consequently, carry out new attacks.

About the strikes carried out by the Americans and Britons against the Houthis' positions, HE said" They would not eliminate the military capacities the Houthis possessing, however, they might weaken the capacities".

He stated that these capacities can be eliminated by two things: First, robust partnership with the internationally recognized Yemeni government and substantially supporting it to restore control over all the Yemeni regions that have been under these militias' control. Second, stemming the sources of weapons supplies from Iran".

HE stressed that it is very important for the IC to provide the Yemeni legitimate government with sufficient support, noting that there several forms for support. For example to transfer the funds of the UN's agencies through the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden and relocate the UN's agencies and international humanitarian organizations' headquarters in the temporary capital Aden.

HE has confirmed that the legitimate government provides basic services and pays monthly salaries of the government's employees, while the Houthis have not paid the salaries since nine years, nor provide basic services. They do actually devote all funds they collect from national sources and international ones to build their military capacities, carry out attacks on the Yemenis in the military fronts or cities or economic facilities.

Concerning to the threats and attacks the Houthi militias carry out in the Red Sea, HE noted that these threats in the Red Sea had started long earlier the Gaza war.
He stated that the Houthis and Iranians capitalize on the Gaza issue to gain politically, it is immoral investment. Because the Houthis have imposed blockade on Taiz with over 4 million people since eight years, prevent water and food stuffs delivery. They also besiege the legitimate government preventing oil exports by targeting oil seaports, exercising violence and terrorism against the fellow people, while they are talking about Gaza cause. He described this as clear contradiction, between talking morally and acting immorally.

Regarding the designation of the Houthis as a Terrorist Group, HE stated that this designation won't cause the Yemenis any harm.

This is clearly evidenced over the early stages of the war imposed by the terrorist militias on the Yemenis from 2015 to 2016 the Hodeida seaport was closed. Commodity supplies were coming from Aden seaport and al-Mukkal seaport. The goods were transferred to the militias-controlled regions at cheaper cost than it is now.

Concerning to the Yemeni-Saudi relationship, the President said" Saudi Arabia has always been with the Yemenis through all circumstance, our relation is accidental but deeply rooted, historical relation, we share long borders over 1400 km, we have 3 million expatriates work in the Saudi Arabia, we have also 200 thousand Yemeni pupils at primary and secondary schools in the Saudi Arabia.

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