Barran Press
France has reiterated its commitment to ending the conflict in Yemen and initiating reconstruction, development, oil exports, economic strengthening, and serving the Yemeni people suffering from the war's devastation, according to French Ambassador to Yemen, Catherine Corm-Kammoun.
Kammoun made the statement during a meeting with the member of the Presidential Leadership Council, Othman Mejalli, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. She reaffirmed France's "support for legitimacy in Yemen," according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.
In response, Mejalli praised the "clear French stance from the beginning in supporting legitimacy," appreciating "Paris's commitment to Yemen's stability, ending the coup, and the return of development and investment." He stated that "France is one of Yemen's most important partners in the oil and gas sector, as well as in development, humanitarian, political, and economic aspects."
Mejalli accused the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, of "derailing the Muscat consultations on the issue of prisoners and detainees, as they had done with previous consultations." He explained that this comes from a desire to "avoid fulfilling humanitarian obligations and commitments, including the release of prisoners and detainees, most notably prominent politician Mohammed Qahtan."
He stated that the internationally recognized Yemeni government has shown "great flexibility in order to reach an agreement leading to the exchange of prisoners and detainees on an all-for-all basis."
Mejalli also accused the Houthi group of working to "exacerbate the situation and fuel the conflict on various fronts, alongside continuing to launch drones, daily sniping, and moving military equipment and vehicles in an unwarranted provocation of the Yemeni army and people."
He condemned what he described as "reckless Houthi actions, including expanding the scope of Houthi terrorism, kidnapping and detaining employees of embassies and international organizations operating in areas under their control, and fabricating charges against them."
He stated that "Houthi terrorist practices harm Yemen at the local, regional, and international levels, and Yemenis are paying the price for this Iranian-backed Houthi terrorism, which has recently peaked through threats to international navigation."
Mejalli accused the Houthis of failing to adhere to the roadmap and evading political and economic commitments by attacking oil facilities, preventing oil exports, escalating tensions in the Red Sea, and economically dividing the country.
Regarding the decisions of the Central Bank, he said they are "sovereign and independent decisions aimed at preserving the bank's legal status, including decisions that ensure the cancellation of counterfeit currencies and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing carried out by the Houthis, exploiting the existence of part of the banking system under their control."
The meeting between Mejalli and the French ambassador comes at a time of regional and international efforts to push for the signing of a roadmap to end the nine-year war, amidst Yemeni concerns that this roadmap does not meet the aspirations of Yemenis for lasting and comprehensive peace.
On December 23, 2022, the United Nations announced that Yemeni parties had reached understanding to commit to a set of measures including implementing a ceasefire encompassing all of Yemen, measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, and engaging in preparations for resuming a comprehensive political process under the auspices of the United Nations.
The roadmap and peace efforts in Yemen have been stalled due to attacks by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden since last November.