UNSC monthly briefing on Yemen

INDIA STATEMENT

By

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

12 May 2021

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Mr. President,

I thank you for giving me the floor. I also thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary General Lowcock for their briefings. I welcome the Permanent Representative of Yemen Ambassador Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi to this meeting.

2. At the outset, let me express my heartfelt condolences to the people of Yemen, who have lost their loved ones in the recent floods in the country.

Mr. President,

3. I express our support to the Special Envoy for his repeated endeavours to secure an agreement between the parties for a nationwide ceasefire in Yemen. We have noted the efforts being made by the US Special Envoy and the Omani authorities. The positive statements by Yemen’s neighbours and other countries in the region have also contributed to the overall diplomatic efforts.

4. It is unfortunate though that no breakthrough has been achieved despite this diplomatic push. We urge the leaders of warring parties in Yemen to set aside their differences for the benefit of the Yemeni people, whom they claim to represent. A spirit of compromise is required to find common ground, avert the risk of famine and end the suffering of the people. We encourage all parties to show flexibility and engage with the Special Envoy in good faith. The countries in the region have a major role to play in influencing Yemeni parties to stop the fighting and pursue initiatives that are currently being discussed.

5. I have, in previous meetings, underlined the importance for greater donor assistance to address Yemen’s humanitarian situation, the need to remove the impediments by de facto authorities and the requirement of smooth supply of humanitarian and essential commodities to prevent famine in the country. The SAFER oil tanker still remains an outstanding issue.

6. Today, I will focus on two key issues, which are critical for long-term peace and stability in Yemen.

7. First, the necessity for an immediate nationwide ceasefire, which should start with Marib.

8. There can be no peace without the cessation of the offensive in Marib.  Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the unabated fighting in frontline areas of the Marib Governorate. The fighting has only prolonged the suffering of its large population and put more than a million internally displaced people at grave risk.

9. The current conflict in Marib also jeopardizes its position as a prominent center of economic activity in Yemen. The potential economic consequences of a protracted battle for Marib will further exacerbate the dire economic situation in the country.

10. We commend the efforts of the Yemeni government to fight terrorism despite the ongoing escalation. It is imperative that Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups are prevented from exploiting the situation.

11. From being relatively stable, Marib’s transformation into a hotspot of military operations, within a span of few months, also underscores the fragility of any ceasefire that is not backed by a political agreement between the parties.

12. Second, the need for full implementation of the Riyadh and Stockholm Agreements.

13. The formation of the joint cabinet and its return to Aden was a major milestone in the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. However, recent developments in the south are concerning. We hope that the Yemeni Government and the Southern Transition Council will be able to work together on the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. This will also have a direct bearing on the political negotiations in the next step.

14. Hudaydah has also been the scene of intense clashes in recent months. The ongoing fighting in the province between Yemeni army forces and Ansarallah risks unraveling the Stockholm Agreement, which will have serious consequences, both economic and humanitarian. Millions of Yemenis depend on imports from Yemen’s Red Sea ports. The preservation of this lifeline is even more vital now as famine-like conditions have returned to Yemen, in particular against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. I appreciate UNMHA’s efforts to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire on the ground, despite the restrictions, and urge both parties to fulfill their commitments under the Stockholm Agreement, including through participation in the Redeployment Coordination Committee.

Mr. President,

15. The elements of the joint declaration, which were again reiterated in the recent Saudi initiative, offer a clear roadmap for return of peace and stability to Yemen. They must be pursued without any pre-conditions. I will conclude by reiterating that all parties in Yemen must put politics aside and prioritise the wellbeing and interests of the Yemeni people.

I thank you Mr. President.

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