Yemen Monitor / Riyadh / Newsroom:
The German Ambassador to Yemen, Thomas Schneider, issued a decisive appeal to the Houthi group, urging them to fundamentally reassess their options and determine whether they want to be a partner in the peace process or prefer to continue on the path of conflict and division.
In a special interview with the “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” newspaper, Schneider affirmed that Berlin adopts a “comprehensive and quiet” diplomatic approach to the Yemen file, centered on helping the Yemeni people find the right path towards stability. In this context, he stressed that Yemen needs a strong, unified government that the international community can rely on as an effective partner.
Schneider revealed that Germany’s interests in Yemen are not limited to the humanitarian aspect alone but extend to its direct security interests. These include: ensuring the security and safety of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; confronting illegal immigration that passes through Yemen to Africa and then Europe; and ensuring the security of the Yemeni people and working to prevent a food crisis or famine due to the current situation. He pointed out that German-Yemeni relations are historical and deep, with close cooperation in the field of development.
The German Ambassador, who presented his credentials last August, expressed his country’s deep concern over the attacks launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants against international navigation in the Red Sea, as well as the kidnapping of UN staff. He described these actions as “completely unacceptable,” questioning, “How can someone who commits such acts be viewed as a partner for peace?”
Regarding the Iranian role, Schneider indicated that Tehran, as the primary supporter of the Houthis, must ask itself: what kind of role does it want to play in the region? Does it want to be part of the solution or part of the problem?
The Ambassador called on Iran to necessarily demonstrate its “good intentions” by promoting regional stability, affirming that Yemen represents the ideal place to prove this. He stressed the necessity for Iran to act in a way that does not threaten its neighbors or the international community.
Schneider affirmed the pivotal importance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in finding a way out of the crisis, emphasizing that “a solution to the crisis in Yemen cannot be reached without Saudi Arabia,” given its leading and central role in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
The Ambassador called on the Yemeni parties to discuss their internal differences to reach compromises and agreements that allow them to move forward together effectively. He warned that the continuation of militarization and the seizure of vast areas, as the Houthis have done in Sana’a, is regrettable and hinders a swift settlement.
