YouSaid · the spoken record

Grundberg

lines on the record: 195
first: 2021-09-10
most recent: 2023-08-16
sittings or episodes: 18
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“To date, the truce has been holding for over three months. It has resulted in a significant two-thirds reduction in civilian casualties, as compared to the three months before the truce began. Due to the sharp decline in hostilities, conflict-related civilian casualties are now mostly due to landmines and unexploded ordnance, which continue to pose a threat to civilians, including children, as they return to areas where hostilities have decreased. We continue to receive reports from both sides about alleged incidents inside Yemen, including direct and indirect fire, drone attacks, reconnaissance overflights and the establishment of new fortifications and trenches. The parties are also allegedly sending reinforcements to the main front lines, including in Ma’rib, Al-Hudaydah and Taiz.”
2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source
“Mr. Grundberg: Allow me to start by extending my warmest wishes to Yemenis and Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha — a time to celebrate and reflect on the values of selflessness and compassion, principles that should guide us as we work towards a more peaceful and prosperous future for Yemen. With a deadline for the truce extension a mere three weeks away, I want to take this opportunity, first, to highlight what has been achieved in the three and a half months of the truce; secondly, discuss some of the obstacles we have faced in its implementation and how we are working to overcome them and; thirdly, outline a way forward that includes extending, consolidating and expanding the truce so as to increase the benefits to the people of Yemen and move towards a political settlement.”
2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source
“That work needs to be anchored in a political context, gearing towards a political settlement. I remain deeply grateful for the continuous support I receive from the Council, as well as from the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the broader international community. Such support will remain critical in the coming months. However, it is ultimately up to the parties to seize this opportunity, to negotiate in good faith and to make necessary compromises for the benefit of Yemen as a whole. The truce offers a rare opportunity to pivot towards peace that should not be lost.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“As we are working to consolidate the benefits of the truce, it is important to recognize that a structured, inclusive, multitrack process can provide the platform required to reach such durable solutions. It will also provide an opportunity to move Yemen towards a sustainable political settlement that meets the legitimate aspirations and demands of Yemeni women and men. Over the next month and a half, I will pursue two main lines of action. First, I will work with the parties to ensure the implementation and consolidation of all the elements of the truce, including the opening of roads in Taiz and other governorates. Secondly, I will work to achieve more durable solutions to pressing economic and security needs. As such, I plan to initiate negotiations on the economic and security tracks.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“Certain themes emerged from those consultations, including the need to transform the truce into a durable ceasefire with a view to achieving longer-term security arrangements and an urgent call for the payment of public sector salaries and the management of revenues, monetary policy coordination and reconstruction. Participants also emphasized the need to ensure that the political process will be more inclusive, with women, youth and civil society represented across the various tracks. My Office has long recognized the valuable contributions of Yemeni peace actors, and I therefore look forward to listening to the briefing of Ms. Azal Al-Salafi. The political, security and economic issues raised by Yemenis during the various rounds of consultations have given us a direction for the way forward.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“Over the past two and a half months, the truce has created a more conducive environment for the parties to engage in good faith. Yet the implementation of the truce has brought to the surface more contentious issues with political implications, such as revenue management, public sector salary payments, travel documents and a more durable ceasefire. Those matters are political and governance-related, and we need to move towards more durable arrangements on those issues. Some of those matters were indeed highlighted during my ongoing consultations to help formulate the priorities for a structured, multitrack process. During the past month, I held consultations with Yemeni public figures, diverse women constituencies and economic experts and the private sector to inform the design and substance of such a process.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“While I am encouraged by the positive response by the Government of Yemen to the United Nations proposal, I am still waiting for a response from Ansar Allah. In the wake of the constructive discussions I had in Sana’a at the end of last week, I urge Ansar Allah to respond positively and without delay to the proposal. Recent weeks have shown the fragility of the truce and that delays to its implementation may threaten to unravel it in its entirety. Resorting to transactionalism, by threatening to make the implementation of one element of the truce conditional against another, and using escalatory media rhetoric, undermines the truce. Ultimately, it is up to the parties to safeguard the truce and deliver on its promise to the benefit of the people of Yemen.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“Following the nomination of their respective delegations, I convened the parties in Amman to reach an agreement on opening roads in Taiz and other governorates. I would like to highlight the critical role played by local mediators and civil-society representatives present at the meeting, voicing their views and priorities and providing their expertise on road openings. After two rounds of frank and constructive deliberations on the views and options proposed by each side, I presented the parties with a proposal for a phased opening of roads that includes a main route from Taiz city to the Hawban area east of the city, as well as additional roads in Taiz and other governorates. The proposal also includes elements for an implementation mechanism and commitments for the safety of civilian travellers.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“Their freedom of movement has been greatly impeded by the conflict for years. As Taizis know all too well, the only open roads to the city are long and arduous. Last November I travelled for more than six hours along the narrow, winding and rugged mountainous road from Aden to the city of Taiz. Before the conflict, the same trip on the main road would have taken only three hours. In Taiz, I met with men, women and young people who told me about their daily plight they suffer because of closed access roads in and out of the city. I have also witnessed first-hand how the severe restrictions have crippled the economy, worsened access to health care and endangered travel for civilians.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“During the months of April and May, more than 480,000 metric tons of fuel products were cleared — more fuel than entered Al-Hudaydah during the whole of last year. Since the beginning of the renewed truce, two ships have been cleared, and I hope the momentum of the last truce will not be lost. The steady delivery of fuel has taken the pressure off vital services, significantly decreased the queues at petrol stations that dominated the streets of Sana’a and allowed Yemenis to travel more easily around the country. As we will hear from Ms. Ghada Mudawi of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, those are some of the positive humanitarian implications of the truce. It is critical to ensure that the truce also delivers on easing the suffering of the people of Taiz.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“When I last briefed the Council, the first commercial flight to Amman had just taken place the day before, following nearly six years of the closure of Sana’a airport. Since then we have also initiated flights to Cairo. To date, we have had eight commercial round-trip flights, which have transported 2,795 passengers from Sana’a to Amman and Cairo. I would like to recognize the efforts of the Government of Yemen for prioritizing the needs of Yemenis by facilitating the opening of the airport. I also want to reiterate my sincere appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their instrumental role in facilitating those flights. The steady flow of fuel to the port of Al-Hudaydah has been maintained throughout the truce.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“As the Council is aware, we do not have independent monitoring capacities, but I take all those allegations very seriously. It will be critical to prevent such alleged incidents from provoking renewed escalation and violence. In that context, I am pleased to report that my Office has convened the first two meetings of the Military Coordination Committee, made up of representatives of the parties, in addition to the coalition’s joint forces command. The Committee agreed to meet on a monthly basis and to set up a joint coordination room to address issues of concern in a timely manner. The face-to-face meetings represent a significant first step to building trust and improving communication between the parties.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“First, the truce continues to hold in military terms. There have been no confirmed air strikes inside Yemen or cross-border attacks emanating from Yemen since the beginning of the agreement, and there has been a significant drop in civilian casualties. However, casualty numbers due to landmines and unexploded ordnance are unfortunately increasing as civilians, including children, venture into contaminated front- line areas that were previously inaccessible. Despite the overall reduction in fighting, we continue to receive reports from both sides about alleged violations inside Yemen, including shelling, drone attacks, reconnaissance overflights and the redeployment of forces. Armed clashes have been reported on several fronts, with the majority of incidents reported in Ma’rib, Taiz and Al-Hudaydah governorates.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“Mr. Grundberg: I am pleased to be here with Council members today. It is the first time that I have had the opportunity to brief the Council in person since I announced the truce in April (see S/PV.9017). The truce has now been holding in Yemen for two and a half months, a development that is unprecedented in this war and that seemed unimaginable at the beginning of this year. The parties recently extended the truce under the same terms until 2 August this year, and I commend the parties for their leadership and for listening to the millions of Yemenis who have been calling for respite and a chance for peace after more than seven years of conflict. At two and a half months into the truce, I would like to take stock of where we are on its implementation, highlight challenges and delineate the way forward.”
2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source
“This is a time to build trust and confidence, which will not be easy after more than seven years of conflict. Yemen will need the international community’s support as much as ever to maintain the momentum and move towards finding an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable end to the conflict. I will need the Council’s redoubled efforts and support during this critical period.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“Different Yemenis have pointed to the need for security arrangements to include local security actors and civil society and be informed by the needs of the civilian population. Women have participated actively in those consultations, and I am very encouraged by that. They have highlighted the disproportionate impact of the conflict and economic strains on them. They have also called for their inclusion in peace talks and for protection for women and girls from all forms of violence. Those priorities will shape next steps and my overall approach to reaching a sustainable solution. The truce offers a rare opportunity to pivot towards a peaceful future. The coming weeks will be a test of the parties’ commitments to upholding their obligations.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“They want to live in safety and security, to be able to care for their families, to have access to public services and to exercise their rights. Yemenis across political and geographical divides have stressed the dire economic situation in the country, pointing to the need to resume salary payments and service delivery, address the rising cost of living; ensure the freedom of movement of people and goods, and bring together economic institutions. Many Yemenis have pointed to the need for accountable and effective governance at all levels, including at the local level. Several groups from southern Yemen have stressed the need to address the southern question in a lasting manner.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“Looking ahead, I will continue to engage the parties to build upon the elements in the truce, both in order to sustain it and as part of my multi-track process. Those efforts will also be informed by my consultations. At the end of March, I completed the first round of consultations and discussions with diverse Yemeni men and women, including political parties, economic and security experts, civic actors and the wider Yemeni public. The aim was to understand their priorities for economic, security and political elements that will inform my framework for a multi-track process to reach a durable settlement. I will hold further consultations after Ramadan. The main message that has emerged from the consultations so far is that Yemenis want the war to end.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“The Security Council has expressed its expectation that the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council will form an important step towards stability and an inclusive Yemeni-led and -owned political settlement under United Nations auspices. I look forward to engaging with the Presidential Leadership Council to continue to work towards that end. I also welcome the economic package that has been announced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The truce is a chance to steer Yemen in a new direction, but if we are to consolidate that path and prevent a slide back into fighting, there needs to be progress on the political front as well. Through dialogue, Yemenis need to determine and own a negotiated settlement to the conflict.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“At the end of March and beginning of April, the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted consultations with hundreds of Yemenis in Riyadh in stated support of a peaceful solution to the conflict. Several conclusions emerged from those consultations, including the need to eschew military solutions and commit to political dialogue under United Nations auspices. It demonstrated the importance of regional organizations in supporting United Nations peace efforts. On 7 April, President Hadi took the decision to delegate his full authorities to a newly-formed Presidential Leadership Council. In line with the Security Council, I welcome the creation of and the assumption of responsibilities by the Presidential Leadership Council of the Government of Yemen that reflects a broader array of political actors.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“That was the focus of my recent visits to Muscat and Sana’a. I am grateful for the constructive conversations I had in Sana’a, during which I received reaffirmed commitment to all aspects of implementing the truce. I also discussed next steps on strengthening the truce and further steps beyond the two months. There have been other positive signs of progress on confidence-building in recent weeks. We have been making headway on the exchange of detainees, and I urge the parties to expeditiously agree on details of the release so that Yemeni families may be reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible. My Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as co-chairs of the Supervisory Committee, will support them in that endeavour.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“I also want to express my gratitude to the Member States that are actively working with us to set up some of the mechanisms relating to the parameters of the truce. I would also like to recognize the contributions of Yemeni peace actors. This truce builds on the long-standing and tireless efforts of Yemeni civic actors, youth groups and women peace activists to stop the war and improve the situation of civilians across the country. I will continue working with them to generate additional momentum for peace. The truce is the result of the commitments of the parties, and it enjoys significant international support, but it is still fragile and temporary. We need to work collectively and intensively in these coming weeks to ensure that it does not unravel. I will continue engaging the parties to implement, strengthen and extend the truce.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“I know that the people of Taiz have waited too long for the moment when they can move freely into and out of the city. It is imperative that serious work be done in Taiz to open roads, allowing civilians on either side of the front lines, both in the city and the surrounding areas, to go to work and school and facilitate trade. I want to thank the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah for showing the required leadership and making the necessary compromises to reach that agreement. I want to use this opportunity to encourage them to continue implementing all elements of the truce. I also want to recognize the crucial roles played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in supporting the negotiations that got us here. The members of the Security Council also played a critical role in backing the talks.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“The parties have publicly committed to de-escalation, and that is what the Yemeni people and the international community expect of them. My Office has established coordination mechanisms for all aspects of the truce, and I encourage the parties to engage seriously and meaningfully in those mechanisms. I want to emphasize that easing restrictions on the movement of goods and civilian men, women and children is a priority for the truce. We have already seen a number of ships enter Al-Hudaydah ports, something that is having a positive impact on the lives of civilians. Flights to and from Sana’a airport need to resume, and we are working with partners to make that happen as quickly as possible. I also want to emphasize that reaching an agreement to open roads in Taiz and other areas is a priority.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“My Office is working to bring the parties together to open roads in Taiz and other governorates. The impact of that on Yemeni lives, as well as the symbolism, should not be underestimated. Although the truce is broadly holding, reports of military operations, particularly around Ma’rib, are concerning and must be addressed urgently through the mechanisms established by the truce. Many Yemenis have told me they fear that the truce will be exploited and used to set the stage for a new escalation. This fear is understandable, given the lack of trust and past experience, and I want to remind the parties that the foundational principle of the truce is that the respite it offers should be used to make progress towards ending the war, and not to escalate it.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“It offers a moment of respite for Yemenis and a moment of possibility for pursuing peace, but it requires continued commitment on the part of the parties and broad support from the region and the international community to make sure it holds and becomes a turning point towards peace. Since the start of the truce, there have been encouraging signs that halting the cyclical patterns of escalation is possible. There has been a significant reduction in violence and civilian casualties. There have been no confirmed air strikes inside Yemen or cross-border attacks emanating from Yemen. There is more fuel flowing through Al-Hudaydah ports into the country. Preparations are under way for commercial flights to depart from Sana’a airport for the first time since 2016.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“Mr. Grundberg: At the start of this year, I told the Council that the military escalation was among the worst we had seen in Yemen for years (see S/PV.8946). Now, I am pleased to tell members that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After some three months of bilateral negotiations, the parties have agreed to a United Nations initiative for a two-month, nationwide, renewable truce — the first nationwide truce in six years. The truce commenced with the start of the holy month of Ramadan and includes provisions to improve the freedom of movement of goods and civilian men, women and children. So far, the agreement is broadly holding.”
2022-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9017 (2022) · source
“I also intend to consult the broader Yemeni public, including young people, to ensure that the framework reflects public priorities and aspirations. Following all these years of war, there is a need for serious, constructive and solution-oriented political dialogue. The consultations held in Amman are an encouraging reminder that this is possible. Together, we need to pursue solutions that will not only end the war, but also build the foundations for a sustainable peace. I will continue to look to the members of the Council to support the process as it moves forward.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“I am focusing the consultations on identifying short- and longer-term priorities for the agenda of the multitrack process envisaged for the framework. I am also exploring guiding principles for the process and gathering an understanding of the participants’ vision for the future. I hope that the consultations mark the beginning of a serious and structured conversation between Yemenis about finding an end to the war. In the coming weeks, I will hold consultations with more Yemeni political components, security and economic actors and civil society representatives. Furthermore, I have strongly encouraged all political parties and civil society organizations to include at least 30 per cent women representatives in the consultations, and my Office continues to follow up with the delegations to encourage them to reach that standard.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“I am encouraged by the interest and active engagement from Yemeni political parties, components, experts and civil society representatives. I am also grateful for the very constructive discussion that I had earlier this month with President Hadi Mansour about the process. Over the past week, I have held bilateral meetings with leaders from the General People’s Congress party and with delegations from the Al-Islah party, the Yemeni Socialist Party, the Nasserist Unionist People’s Organization and the Southern Transitional Council. I want to express my gratitude to the Government of Jordan for facilitating the holding of those meetings in Amman, and I want to thank the members of the Council and other Member States that have shown clear support for the consultations.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“With Ramadan approaching, I hope that the parties will engage swiftly and constructively with my proposals so as to bring the people of Yemen some much-needed hope and relief. In that regard, I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage with the leadership of Ansar Allah in Sana’a on this issue and on how we can move the political process forward. However, as I have said before, any potential de-escalation measures will not hold unless they are supported by a political process. That is why my framework and its attempt to chart a path towards reaching an inclusive political settlement are vital. Since I briefed the Council last month, my Office has launched a series of structured consultations intended to inform the development of my framework.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“Against the backdrop of those exceptional challenges, we see Yemeni women coming together to advocate powerfully for political change. In Taiz, for example, women, young people and civil society recently launched a campaign to challenge the arbitrary demand for a guardian when women apply for a passport and to insist that Yemeni law be upheld. That campaign has achieved initial success, with the Prime Minister issuing directives to the Ministry of Interior to uphold the law. I am keenly aware of the urgent need to halt the violence and to provide relief to Yemenis. That is why, in parallel to my work on the framework, I am actively exploring options with the parties regarding immediate de-escalation measures that could reduce the violence, ease the fuel crisis and improve freedom of movement.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“The currency depreciation and fuel shortages impact Yemenis’ everyday needs — clean water, food, transportation, electricity and health care. Civilians will be affected even more during this period as Yemeni households prepare for the holy month of Ramadan. Yemenis also continue to live with severe restrictions on their freedom of movement. The closure of Sana’a airport prevents many Yemenis in the north from travelling abroad. Ongoing fighting, the proliferation of checkpoints and the closure of access points, especially in Taiz, impede Yemenis’ movements within the country. International Women’s Day this month was a reminder that women and girls face additional movement restrictions with the imposition of a male guardian.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“As we will also hear from Under-Secretary-General Griffiths, it is likely to get worse. In Aden and the surrounding governorates, the Yemeni rial has decreased by 20 per cent against the dollar since January, raising concerns of another precipitous decline in the currency, increasing prices and deepening divisions in the nationwide economy. Tangible measures are needed to stabilize the currency. Throughout Yemen, accessing fuel is increasingly difficult. That is particularly acute in Ansar Allah- controlled areas, where fuel shortages have grown even more severe. Since my last briefing (see S/PV.8966), one ship carrying cooking gas has entered Al-Hudaydah port; two fuel vessels remain in the coalition holding area, waiting for clearance. Impediments to overland deliveries have aggravated shortages.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“Sometimes territory exchanges hands; sometimes it changes back. We see front lines go quiet in one part of the country, only to intensify elsewhere. Always, we see civilians paying an unacceptable price for choices over which they have no influence. Through the ebbs and flows of the conflict, the fact remains that a military approach is not going to produce a sustainable solution. Years of fighting have only destroyed Yemen’s institutions, economy, social fabric and environment. As UNICEF reported, at least 47 children were killed or maimed in Yemen during just the first two months of this year. More than 10,200 children were verified injured or killed over the past seven years, with the actual numbers likely to be much higher. As the fighting goes on, the economic crisis continues to deepen.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“In Ma’rib, Ansar Allah continues its offensive, which has caused enormous harm to civilians for more than two years. In Al-Hudaydah’s southern districts, hostilities continue, with reports of civilian casualties, including women and children. The United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement is working to rebuild communication between the parties, re-establish avenues for de-escalation and enhance the Mission’s monitoring of the ports, while expanding its patrolling reach. I join Major General Beary in stressing the need to maintain the civilian nature of the ports, which are a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. The violence also continues to spill into the region. On 21 February, shrapnel from a drone intercepted over Jizan city’s King Abdullah Airport wounded 16 civilians.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“Mr. Grundberg: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council again on the situation in Yemen and on the relentless efforts of the United Nations to support a peaceful resolution of this conflict. Yemenis have been denied the possibility of living in peace for too many years. We need a joint concerted effort by Yemenis and the international community to break this never-ending cycle of violence and lay the foundation for a sustainable peace. Allow me first to give a few updates on the past month’s developments. In Taiz, the exchange of artillery shelling has again inflicted civilian casualties and damage to residential buildings. Hostilities have also been reported in Sa’dah and Ad Dali’ governorates. Air strikes inside Yemen continue, this month primarily on front lines in Ma’rib and Hajjah.”
2022-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8995 (2022) · source
“My conviction is that a structured and focused approach that does not shy away from the fundamental and complex challenges is needed. However, trust is low and ending the war will require uncomfortable compromises that no warring party is currently willing to make. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us, including the Council, to exert every possible effort to impress upon the parties to the conflict that there is no sustainable military solution and that their quest for a perfect moment of balance on the battlefield when the other side is sufficiently weakened to accept its fate is futile. Dialogue and compromise are required if Yemenis are not to be left suffering until the parties are tired of fighting. A political process under United Nations auspices, supported by the Council, is our best way forward.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“Nevertheless, my efforts in that regard will continue. I remain actively engaged with the warring sides in pursuit of any opening and will report back to the Council on any progress. On that note, allow me to welcome Major General Michael Beary to the Council in his new role as Head of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement. Major General Beary assumed his duties on 19 January and has commenced his own important engagements with parties in Aden, Sana’a and Al-Hudaydah in order to assess their positions and explore openings for de-escalation of violence in Al-Hudaydah. I will continue working on the two lines of effort that I have laid out to the Council: establishing a multitrack process that can produce durable solutions to the conflict, while seeking any opportunity for immediate de-escalation.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“By initiating a structured process that seeks to address the key elements of the conflict, hope for an end to the devastating military, political and economic battles can be restored. I look forward to presenting my framework later this spring. In parallel, I am continuing to explore every possibility of fast-tracking de-escalation. I have continuously engaged with the warring parties on possible mutually agreeable compromises. At recent meetings held in Riyadh and Muscat, I urged the conflict parties to engage in de-escalation talks and presented options for moving forward. Until now, my calls and the calls of the Council for restraint and de-escalation remain unanswered. As we have seen over the past two years, positions are mutually exclusive, with demands on sequencing and guarantees unable to be met by either side.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“The consultations will explore Yemenis’ priorities for the immediate and longer-term for the three tracks, as well as their aspirations and broader vision for ending the conflict. Ensuring inclusivity and including women will be an important aspect of the consultations. I count on the support of the Council to encourage all actors to participate constructively without delay. This is a real opportunity for Yemeni parties to shift gears and charter a peaceful way forward. The framework will be the operationalization of my core mandate of laying the foundation for an inclusive political process that can sustainably end the war. For every year that the war is allowed to continue, that task becomes more challenging but no less necessary. For too long, Yemenis have been without a political process and without hope that the conflict can end.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“To that end, I am developing a framework that will set out my plan to move towards an inclusive political settlement, including the establishment of a multitrack process. Through that process, the warring sides’ interests can be addressed within the context of a broader Yemeni agenda along the three tracks of political, security and economic matters. As part of that effort, next week I will begin a series of structured bilateral consultations aimed at informing and refining the framework. I will engage with multiple Yemeni stakeholders, including the warring parties, political parties, representatives of civil society and Yemeni experts in the political, security and economic arenas.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“That is not enough to meet the needs of the population. I once again call on the parties to remove all obstacles to the import and domestic distribution of fuel and other basic commodities. The war is also being fought in the public domain, where media rhetoric has become increasingly hostile and has been combined with intimidation and the detention and harassment of media professionals and activists in Yemen. That contributes to a toxic environment in which there is a need for dialogue. I urge all sides to protect press freedom and to immediately and unconditionally release detained journalists and political activists. Despite all those challenges, there is a way out of the war. Allowing the war to continue is a choice and so is ending it. We all know that ending it will not be easy, but I firmly believe that it is possible.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“Once again, I am compelled to remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. I repeat my condemnation of any indiscriminate attack against civilians and civilian infrastructure inside Yemen and outside its borders. As Martin Griffiths will elaborate upon, Yemen’s war continues to be fought in the economic arena as well, with warring sides battling over resources, trade flows and monetary policy. The impact of that aspect of the war continues to irrefutably hit Yemen’s population as a whole. The past month has seen particularly severe shortages of fuel and oil derivatives, notably in areas controlled by Ansar Allah, which has put unprecedented strain on people’s everyday lives. After a long delay, four fuel ships were granted clearance to enter Al-Hudaydah this month. Only one was for the general market.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“The Secretary-General has condemned those attacks and I echo that condemnation. Furthermore, the attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia indicate how this conflict risks spiralling out of control unless serious efforts are urgently made by the Yemeni parties, the region and the international community to end it. For Yemenis, the past month was marked by a multiplication of front lines and an appallingly high record number of civilian casualties. The coalition air strike on a detention facility in Sa’ada, which killed or injured more than 300 detainees, was among the worst civilian casualty incident in three years. The sharp increase in air strikes in Yemen, including on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in Sana’a and Al-Hudaydah, is alarming.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“Mr. Grundberg: The continued military escalation of the conflict in Yemen has escaped no one. I am here today to discuss those worrisome developments and to share with Security Council members my efforts to try and reverse that trajectory and initiate a long-delayed political process. The recent months of escalation have put the spotlight on the regional dimension of the conflict in Yemen. I have always seen a peaceful and prosperous Yemen as the key to stability on the Arabian peninsula. That was already true before the current war. Following the attacks last month by Ansar Allah on the United Arab Emirates, including attacks on a civilian airport and nearby industrial areas in which three civilians were killed, it should be obvious to everyone just how high the stakes have been raised.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“As I convene and consult with Yemenis on the way forward, clear and consistent support from the Council, Member States and, especially, regional States will continue to be vital.”
2022-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8946 (2022) · source
“Eventually, Yemenis of opposing views will need to meet to discuss solutions and determine their shared future. I am keenly aware of the political and military context in which my Office is attempting to initiate a political process. Yemen’s war, like many others, is littered with missed opportunities driven in part by combatants oscillating between feeling too weak to accept or too strong to settle for compromise. Genuine political will, responsible leadership and adherence to the interests of the entire population are needed to sustainably put Yemen on a different trajectory. In addition, I am convinced that, in order to have a chance of breaking the cycle, we need to establish an inclusive, internationally backed political process that can provide a viable foundation for peace.”
2022-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8946 (2022) · source
“In the coming period, I plan to deepen consultations, both with the conflict parties and with a wider range of Yemeni stakeholders, to identify and develop the short-, medium- and long-term priorities that need to be addressed in each of the three areas. As the country is increasingly politically, economically and militarily fractured, Yemenis must be supported in reversing the trajectory through a serious, sustained and structured process backed by the international community. We have been far too long without a political process that can produce options for improving immediate conditions and that can prepare the ground for a realistic and durable settlement. Consultations with me and my Office are a start, but they will not be enough to settle the conflict.”
2022-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8946 (2022) · source
“As such, a comprehensive political solution is necessary to achieve sustainable results. That will require difficult discussions with and among the warring parties and those who have been left out during the war. I will nevertheless continue to explore options for fast-tracking de-escalation, if and when the parties are ready to pursue those options. I have been focusing on developing a comprehensive, inclusive multitrack approach that covers political security and economic issues. The framework will he aimed at facilitating incremental progress in those different areas in parallel. The overall process will be geared towards reaching a durable political settlement.”
2022-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8946 (2022) · source