Barran Press
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday, September 9, 2024, called on the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, to fulfill all its commitments regarding the set of measures outlined in the roadmap announced by the UN envoy in December 2023.
The call was made in a statement issued following the 161st session of the GCC Ministerial Council held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was chaired by Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the current chair of the Ministerial Council, and attended by foreign ministers from all GCC member states.
The roadmap's measures include a ceasefire, steps to improve living conditions, and the resumption of an inclusive political process under the auspices of the United Nations.
The statement reaffirmed the GCC's full support for the Presidential Leadership Council and its supporting entities in achieving security and stability in Yemen and reaching a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the three references.
The council condemned the continued Iranian interference in Yemen's internal affairs and the smuggling of military experts and weapons to the Houthi group, in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2216, 2231, and 2624.
The GCC commended the Saudi-Omani efforts and ongoing communications with all Yemeni parties to revive the political process, emphasizing the importance of the Houthi group's positive engagement with international and UN efforts to end the Yemeni crisis and their serious consideration of peace initiatives and efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
The council reiterated its support for the UN and its special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in achieving a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the three references, commending the Yemeni government's commitment to renewing the UN-announced humanitarian truce in Yemen.
The GCC called for a firm stance against the Houthis' actions that contradict the UN and regional efforts to bring peace to Yemen, expressing deep concern about the ongoing developments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The council stressed the importance of de-escalation to maintain the security and stability of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and respect for freedom of navigation therein, in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The GCC commended the UN and its special envoy to Yemen for their efforts to achieve peace and the humanitarian support provided by Gulf countries to Yemen, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The Ministerial Council called on the Houthi group to immediately release all detained Yemeni employees working for the UN, the US Embassy, international organizations, and other diplomatic missions, considering it a violation of international law and diplomatic norms.