Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, made a significant announcement on Saturday, June 15, 2024, regarding his government's stance on the Houthi group's violations. Dr. Al-Alimi declared that his government would maintain a policy of "economic firmness" in response to the dangerous actions of the Houthi group, urging the Yemeni people to support these decisions during this critical time.

Speaking to Yemenis both at home and abroad on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Dr. Al-Alimi emphasized that the policy of economic firmness would be implemented across all state institutions. This decision comes in response to the grave transgressions of the Houthi group, which poses a severe threat to Yemen, potentially leading to a comprehensive humanitarian catastrophe. The Yemeni news agency, Saba (government), reported on his remarks.

Dr. Al-Alimi highlighted the overwhelming popular and political support received by the Central Bank's decisions, which validates the correctness of the economic assertiveness policy. He called upon the Yemeni people to stand by these decisions, act per them, and disregard the misleading propaganda spread by the Houthis. The Houthis have taken control of the country's resources without fulfilling their obligations towards the citizens residing in their controlled areas.

Explaining the objectives of the economic firmness policy, Dr. Al-Alimi outlined three main goals. Firstly, it aims to affirm the legal and financial standing of the Yemeni state. Secondly, it seeks to protect the banking sector and the funds of depositors from Houthi violations and combat money laundering. Lastly, it aims to safeguard the national economy from the perils of international isolation resulting from the classification of the Houthis as a terrorist organization. The negative repercussions of this classification could have adverse effects on the entire Yemeni financial sector.

Regarding the issue of roads, Dr. Al-Alimi stressed the government's concessions made to encourage militias to end their sieges of cities and open roads, enabling the movement of individuals, money, goods, and facilitating humanitarian operations. Despite the government's efforts, the militias have reneged on their commitments, leading to further complications.

Dr. Al-Alimi emphasized that the government's dedication to an institutional and legal approach aims to ensure the sustainable movement of citizens. This involves repositioning forces stationed at the frontlines, clearing Houthi-laid mines and sniper positions, and preventing a return to the harrowing experience of sieges. He condemned the brutal siege imposed by the Imami militias loyal to the Iranian regime, stating it would forever remain etched in the collective memory as an example of brutality.

Regarding the Houthi group's campaign of arrests, Dr. Al-Alimi revealed that dozens of employees working in humanitarian and UN agencies, as well as human rights activists, have been affected. This campaign serves as confirmation of the government's repeated calls for international organizations to relocate their headquarters to the temporary capital of Aden. Such a move would prevent them from being held hostage by the militias and their repressive apparatus.

Dr. Al-Alimi criticized the sectarian chants made by the Houthi delegation during the Hajj, describing them as reaching a point of misguidance and deviation. The group chanted slogans in the Holy Kaaba, disturbing the tranquility and security of the pilgrims. He condemned this behavior as barbaric, harmful to the guests of the Most Gracious, and a blatant violation of the sanctity of time and place, disregarding the customs and traditions of authentic Arab society.

Reflecting on the significance of Eid, Dr. Al-Alimi expressed that true celebration would come when national institutions are restored, and the land is liberated from backwardness, extremism, and hatred. He emphasized the importance of reclaiming a happy Yemen, a homeland of pride and dignity, which is currently threatened by the new imamate's idea of guardianship, slavery, discrimination, and claims of dynastic distinction. He reassured the Yemeni people of the government's commitment to stand by their side, strive to serve them and work towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on agreed-upon national, regional, and international solutions.

Dr. Al-Alimi's confirmation of the government's commitment to the policy of economic assertiveness comes just two days after UN envoy Hans Grundberg addressed his efforts to halt the implementation of the Central Bank's decisions. Grundberg aims to facilitate a direct face-to-face meeting between Dr. Al-Alimi and other relevant parties to discuss the economic crisis and de-escalation.

During his briefing to the UN Security Council, Grundberg mentioned his ongoing efforts to resolve the economic situation between Sanaa and Aden. On June 1, he wrote a letter to both Dr. Al-Alimi and Mahdi Al-Mashat, Chairman of the Supreme Political Council, urging them to refrain from further escalation and engage in dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations. However, no positive response has been received thus far.

Grundberg stressed the importance of continued efforts to find a significant announcement on Saturday, June 15, 2024, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, affirmed his government's commitment to a policy of "economic firmness" in response to the violations committed by the Houthi group. Describing the Houthi group as "dangerous" according to the international classification, Dr. Al-Alimi called on the Yemeni people to support his decisions during this critical period.

Delivering his address on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Dr. Al-Alimi stated that the policy of "economic firmness" would be implemented across all state institutions to address the severe transgressions of the Houthi group that pose a threat of a comprehensive humanitarian catastrophe. The Yemeni news agency, Saba (government), reported on his remarks.

Dr. Al-Alimi emphasized the widespread popular and political support received for the Central Bank's decisions, validating the correctness of the economic assertiveness policy. He urged the Yemeni people to stand by these decisions, act in accordance with them, and disregard the misleading propaganda spread by the Houthis, who have taken control of the country's resources without fulfilling their obligations to the citizens residing in their areas of control.

Explaining the objectives of the economic firmness policy, Dr. Al-Alimi outlined three main goals. Firstly, it aims to establish the legal and financial standing of the Yemeni state. Secondly, it seeks to safeguard the banking sector protect depositors' funds from Houthi violations, and combat money laundering. Lastly, it aims to shield the national economy from the perils of international isolation resulting from the classification of the Houthis as a terrorist organization. Such isolation could have dire consequences for the entire Yemeni financial sector.

Addressing the issue of roads, Dr. Al-Alimi highlighted the government's concessions made to encourage the militias to end their sieges of cities, open roads, and facilitate the movement of individuals, money, goods, and humanitarian organizations' operations. However, despite these efforts, the militias have failed to honor their commitments.

Dr. Al-Alimi stressed the government's commitment to an institutional and legal approach to ensure the safe movement of citizens. This includes repositioning forces stationed at the frontlines, clearing Houthi-laid mines and sniper positions, and preventing a return to the devastating experience of sieges. He condemned the brutal siege imposed by the Imami militias loyal to the Iranian regime, stating that it would be remembered as a brutal example of oppression.

Regarding the Houthi group's campaign of arrests, Dr. Al-Alimi stated that numerous employees working in humanitarian and UN agencies, as well as human rights activists, have been affected. He emphasized that this campaign reinforces the government's repeated calls for international organizations to relocate their headquarters to the temporary capital of Aden to avoid being held hostage by the militias and their repressive apparatus.

Dr. Al-Alimi criticized the sectarian chants made by the Houthi delegation during the Hajj, describing them as misguided and deviant. The group's slogans chanted within the Holy Kaaba disrupted the tranquility and security of the pilgrims. He condemned this behavior as barbaric, harmful to the pilgrims, and a blatant violation of the sanctity of the holy site, disregarding the customs and traditions of Arab society.

Reflecting on the significance of Eid, Dr. Al-Alimi expressed that the true celebration would come when national institutions are restored, and the land is liberated from backwardness, extremism, and hatred. He underlined the importance of reclaiming a prosperous Yemen, a homeland of pride and dignity, threatened by the new imamate's ideology of guardianship, slavery, discrimination, and claims of dynastic distinction. He reassured the Yemeni people of the government's commitment to stand with them, serve them, and work towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on agreed-upon national, regional, and international solutions.

Dr. Al-Alimi's confirmation of the government's commitment to the policy of "economic assertiveness" follows closely after UN envoy Hans Grundberg addressed his efforts to halt the implementation of the Central Bank's decisions. Grundberg aims to facilitate a direct face-to-face meeting between Dr. Al-Alimi and other relevant parties to discuss the economic crisis and de-escalation.

During his briefing to the UN Security Council, Grundberg highlighted his ongoing efforts to resolve the economic situation between Sanaa and Aden. He had previously written a letter to both Dr. Al-Alimi and Mahdi Al-Mashat, Chairman of the Supreme Political Council, on June 1, urging them to refrain from further escalation and engage in dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations. However, no positive response has been received thus far.

Grundberg emphasized the importance of continued efforts to find a resolution, acknowledging the challenge of the economic crisis and the need for dialogue to prevent further escalation.