Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, emphasized that any permanent political settlement in Yemen requires addressing what he described as the root causes of security threats in the country and the region, stressing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved amid the continued existence of armed groups outside the state framework.
This came during his meeting, Wednesday, with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Yemen, Patrick Simonnet, where the two sides discussed areas of joint cooperation, European support programs directed toward economic, developmental, and humanitarian reforms, as well as the latest political and security developments.
Al-Alimi said that the stability of Yemen and the region is linked to building state institutions capable of extending their authority and monopolizing the use of force, considering that a ceasefire alone is not enough to end the conflict unless it is coupled with steps that reinforce state authority and ensure the restoration of its institutions.
In the context of discussing regional developments, the Yemeni President warned of the repercussions of the activities carried out by the Houthi group in maritime lanes, calling for the adoption of a stricter international approach toward the group and its linked support networks.
He also called on European Union countries to expand their measures against the Houthis, to include targeting funding, weapons smuggling, and money laundering networks, considering that the international community’s delay in dealing with the sources of threat raises the cost of protecting international trade and navigation routes.
Al-Alimi asserted that the security of the Red Sea is directly linked to the Yemeni state’s ability to enforce control over its coasts and ports, pointing out that supporting Yemeni security and military institutions represents an investment in regional and international security.
The meeting also touched upon the government’s efforts in implementing economic and administrative reforms, and its plans to address the energy crisis and improve basic services, including expanding renewable energy projects and electrical interconnection with Saudi Arabia.
The Head of the Leadership Council praised Saudi support for Yemen, particularly in the energy sector, considering that the recent assistance regarding oil derivatives will contribute to enhancing the stability of the electricity service and alleviating the living burdens on citizens.
He also expressed his anticipation for a larger European role in supporting economic recovery plans and rehabilitating services, as well as reviving international coordination mechanisms aimed at mobilizing the necessary resources to assist the Yemeni government during the upcoming phase.
