Anwar Gargash: Houthis are jeopardising historic chance for peace in Yemen

Stockholm Agreement is the only logical solution to ending the war, Dr Anwar Gargash says

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash, speaks during a press conference in Dubai about the situation in Yemen on August 13, 2018. AFP

Houthi rebels are jeopardising a historic chance to achieve peace in Yemen, the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said on Wednesday, reiterating calls for international pressure on the Iran-backed group.

The Stockholm Agreement, brokered through UN-led peace talks in December, is the only logical solution to ending Yemen’s nearly four-year war, Dr Gargash said on Twitter.

“A political solution to the crisis will not be achieved by the reversal of commitments, we have a historic opportunity threatened by the Houthi to jeopardise efforts made in Stockholm,” Dr Gargash said.

Yemen's internationally recognised government and Houthis rebels committed to a series of measures to pave the way for a full-scale peace effort during UN-brokered talks with the government in Sweden last December. However, the deal has not been fully enforced amid what the international coalition says is a litany of recorded rebel violations.

The deal included a ceasefire in Hodeidah and withdrawal of forces from the city and its ports, a prisoner exchange and the opening of humanitarian corridors to all areas of the country.

Dr Gargash has previously said that international pressure was essential to make the rebels honour the Hodeidah ceasefire and other commitments.

Yemen's almost four-year war has brought millions of people to the brink of famine.

Representatives from the leading countries in the Saudi-led coalition to back the internationally recognised government have sent letters to the UN Security Council urging action and detailing dozens of Houthi violations of the ceasefire deal.

Yemen President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi said on Tuesday that if no progress was made in enforcing the existing deal before he would agree to any further talks.