RIYADH: Qatar and the Arab League on Saturday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s hosting of an inclusive conference aimed at exploring fair solutions to the southern issue, reaffirming their support for efforts to promote security and stability in Yemen.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), praised the role of the legitimate Yemeni government in advancing dialogue and addressing the southern issue.
The ministry also commended the request by the president of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council to convene the conference in Riyadh, describing it as a reflection of his commitment to resolving national issues through dialogue.
Meanwhile, League of Arab States Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the call by President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi to convene a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to discuss just solutions to the southern issue, the SPA reported.
He also expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s swift response to the legitimate Yemeni government’s request and its readiness to host and sponsor the conference, which will include the participation of southern factions.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the situation in southern Yemen has deep-rooted historical dimensions and involves legitimate issues that must be addressed through negotiations within a comprehensive Yemeni framework.
He warned that attempts to impose a fait accompli would not advance the southern cause but would instead inflict serious harm by exposing the country to further fragmentation and disintegration.
Aboul Gheit reaffirmed the Arab League’s longstanding position, stressing its full commitment to Yemen’s unity and the preservation of its territorial integrity, as outlined in the organization’s repeated resolutions on the Yemeni crisis.
The United Arab Emirates has announced the withdrawal of its remaining counter-terrorism units from Yemen, saying the decision was taken after a review of recent developments on the ground.
The decision came after Saudi Arabia expressed strong concern over recent actions by the UAE in Yemen, warning that they posed serious risks to Saudi national security and to the stability of Yemen and the wider region.
