KUWAIT: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad attend a session for the UN-mediated Yemeni peace talks on Sunday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service and Insurance Abdulaziz Jabbari urged the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to act swiftly to help achieve fair and sustainable peace in Yemen.

Speaking at a closed-door session attended by the UN chief and Yemeni negotiating teams participating in the Kuwait-hosted and UN-mediated Intra-Yemen talks, Jabbari emphasized the legal and moral responsibility of the international community towards Yemen. He warned that a sticking-plaster peace deal would not be an acceptable solution to the crisis. It would just move the conflict to the future, he laid it bare.

Jabbari explained that the Yemeni people have been exhausted by conflicts and are yearning to everlasting peace that is based on all parties commitment to the UNSC resolution 2216 and other peace talks basic reference points such as the Gulf initiative and its mechanisms as well as the outcome of national dialogue.

The Yemeni official stressed that Yemeni government and people are appreciative of the UN Secretary General's eagerness to render the Yemeni peace talks a real success. He added that the Yemeni government delegation came to Kuwait with a sincere desire to achieve peace and end the conflict whose grave ramifications have reached every part of the country and affected every citizen and are now threatening to dismember the social fabric and national unity. He pointed out that the crisis in Yemen and its huge political, social and economic consequences are no longer an internal Yemeni affair, but rather a regional and international issue.

If the Yemen's state institutions were not restored and the illegal weapons were not handed over to the government, there would be disastrous impacts on regional and international peace and security, he argued. Logic dictates that any peace deal should pave the way for Anasruallah movement to turn into a political party to be a partner in the political and the decision-making processes in Yemen, he said.

In the conclusion, Jabbari thanked the UN chief and Kuwaiti leadership at the forefront of it His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, other Gulf leaders and all world countries supporting peace in Yemen.

Comprehensive solution

Meanwhile, Yemen's Ansarullah Movement Spokesman Mohammad Abdulsalam said that the Kuwait-hosted Yemeni peace consultation talks are so close to an all-out solution to the conflict. "We have full desire for peace and stability in Yemen and all what we ask for is peace which is the demand of our people who suffered a lot," Abdulsalam added in a speech at a meeting between Yemeni negotiators and Ban Ki-moon.

"We have been here in Kuwait for over two months and had attended previous rounds of peace talks in Muscat, Geneva, and (Swiss city of) Biel to meet with the other side in the middle of the road and continue our journey together to build a Yemen for all," he said.

Abdulsalam added that the Ansarullah delegation to talks have exerted relentless efforts in cooperation with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad and engaged in constructive discussions to end the crisis in Yemen, lift the siege and economic sanctions imposed on Yemen to help start an inclusive political process, to complete the transitional period through a reaching a consensus presidency, forming a national unity government and a joint military and security committee to prepare for the next phase. He stated that Yemenis have the full right to have a fully sovereign and independent state which is able to restore security and stability and have good relations with all regional countries.

This the only way to enhance stability and security in Arabian Peninsula, Arabian Gulf and Horn of Africa regions which would help maintain international peace and security, he stressed. Abdulsalam expressed gratitude for the UN Secretary General and his Special Envoy's efforts to mediate a peace deal in Yemen. He also thanked His Highness the Amir and other Kuwaiti officials and people for their unlimited support for Yemeni peace talks.

Great support

Earlier, Ban ki-Moon expressed deep appreciation for the State of Kuwait, its leadership and people for their great support of the Yemeni peace talks, which have been held in Kuwait for more than two months. "I would like to express my deepest appreciation to his highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and government and people of Kuwait for their great support for the Yemeni peace talks here in Kuwait," Ban said in a statement on sidelines of his visit to Kuwait.

Ban said the Yemeni conflict was not a local issue anymore, but has regional and international impacts. Hundreds of thousands of the Yemeni people are suffering from severe shortage of food and medicine, as well as destruction of infrastructure, he said.

"We are deeply concerned in humanitarian situations caused by this continuing conflict, there is a serious shortage of food and medicines for sick people, a lot of infrastructures have been destroyed," he said. "People of Yemen have suffered seriously so much. It is a concern not only for the united nations, the hundreds of thousands people of Yemen are now a regional concern," asserted Ban.

Ban was speaking after meeting representatives of the Yemeni parties attending the Kuwait-hosted talks. "I had been urging the representatives of two parties to exercise the maximum flexibility and narrow down the differences," he said.

Ban said the parties should look beyond their "own party lines and look for a better future for Yemen." If they follow this thinking, he added, "they will be able to find answers" to their problems. Ban hoped the Yemeni parties reach a settlement as soon as possible. "The longer the talks continue, the more time they will need to recover and reconstruct their country," he added.

Ban met with His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Discussions dealt with the peace talks of Yemen and how to end the conflict peacefully. "I have been urging the Kuwaiti leaders to render their strong support" to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict in Yemen, he said.

Amir's role

Ban also highly appreciated His Highness the Amir's personal intervention to address humanitarian crises in the region. "I really appreciate His Highness (the Amir's) personal intervention whenever the world face very difficult moment," Ban said in a statement.

Ban, who arrived in Kuwait on Sunday, the first leg of a regional tour, said His Highness the Amir, named by the UN as the 'Humanitarian Leader,' and his wise leadership enabled the UN to rally huge financial support for the Syrian people. He said he was like to talk about "the generous and humanitarian leadership of His Highness the Amir. I have been working with His Highness (the Amir) to resolve and held the Syrian people."

Kuwait hosted three major donor conferences to held the Syrian people, during which over USD seven billion were raised to help the Syrians. Kuwait also co-chaired a fourth conference that was held in the British capital, London, last February.

Ban said it was His Highness the Amir's "compassionate leadership" that contributed to easing suffering of millions of Syrian people who were either internally displaced or refugees in neighboring and European countries. "He is a real humanitarian champion," he added. His Highness the Amir, during his reception of the UN chief, decorated Ban with Kuwait Order of Excellence as a token of appreciation for his efforts to promote peace all over the world. - KUNA