Biden thanks Saudi Arabia for "courageous leadership" in efforts to extend truce in Yemen

 

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed the extension of a U.N.-brokered truce between the two sides to the conflict in Yemen. He said Saudi Arabia had shown "courageous leadership" by ratifying and implementing the clauses.

"The past two months in Yemen have been among the most peaceful since the terrible war began seven years ago thanks to the truce in April," Biden said in a statement.

Biden said Oman, Egypt and Jordan played a role in making the truce possible. "The United States will continue to be involved in this process over the coming weeks and months," he said, focusing on deterring threats from friends and partners.

Un special envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg announced Thursday that he had agreed to extend the current truce for two months. Grundberg said in a statement released by his office that the parties to the conflict had responded "positively" to the UN proposal to renew the truce in force, as the renewed truce comes into force at the end of the current truce today at 7 p.m. Yemen time.

He explained that the truce was extended in accordance with the same provisions as the original agreement, which came into force on April 2. "Yemenis have seen the tangible benefits of the truce over the past two months," Grundberg said.

The number of civilian casualties has decreased dramatically, and more fuel has entered Yemen through the port of Hodeidah, with commercial flights to and from Sana'a International Airport resuming, nearly six years after the closure.

"I will continue to work with the parties to implement and consolidate the elements of the full truce and to move towards a sustainable political solution to this conflict that meets the legitimate aspirations and demands of Yemeni men and women," he said.

"Additional steps must be taken for the truce to fully realize its potential, particularly with regard to the opening of roads and the operation of commercial flights," he said. Such steps will require leadership and vision for the whole of Yemen."

The UN envoy expressed gratitude for the international community's support in implementing and renewing the truce, particularly those of Saudi Arabia, Oman and members of the UN Security Council. "The parties have offered a glimmer of hope that the devastating conflict can be brought to an end. "I rely on their continued cooperation in good faith to build confidence and use the momentum available to provide a peaceful future in Yemen."

EU ambassadors welcome

The European Union's ambassadors welcome the extension of the truce in Yemen, the European Union mission in Yemen said Thursday. The mission explained via its Twitter account that the ambassadors expressed the hope that the extension of the truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire, stressing the need to reopen roads around Taiz.