President Al-Alimi Meets Latvian President, Member-Elect of the UN Security Council

   New York

His Excellency Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, met today, Tuesday, in New York, with His Excellency President Edgars Rinkēvičs of the Republic of Latvia. The meeting took place in the presence of Council members Major General Aidarous Al-Zubaidi and Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly sessions.

President Al-Alimi congratulated the Republic of Latvia on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2026–2027. His Excellency affirmed Yemen’s support for Latvia’s declared priorities in promoting peace, the rule of law, democracy, women’s rights, and sustainable solutions for security and development.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and prospects for strengthening them across various fields.

The President of the Presidential Leadership Council underscored the important role Latvia can play in fostering peace opportunities in Yemen and the region through its membership in the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee established under Resolution 2140. He added: maintaining international consensus on the Yemeni file, and intensifying collective pressure on the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

President Al-Alimi briefed his Latvian counterpart on the latest domestic developments and the repercussions of the devastating war ignited by the terrorist Houthi militias. He highlighted the militias’ grave attacks on international shipping lanes and commercial vessels. He also drew attention to their gross human rights violations, notably the abduction and enforced disappearance of dozens of employees of United Nations agencies, international organizations, and diplomatic missions.

His Excellency praised Latvia’s stances in support of the Yemeni people and their legitimate government, backing their aspirations to restore state institutions and achieve peace, stability, and development in the country.

President Al-Alimi reaffirmed the commitment of the Presidential Leadership Council and the government to the path of comprehensive peace. He retreated the Council’s commitment to supporting the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, in line with the agreed-upon references, foremost among them Security Council Resolution 2216.

He stressed that the success of any political approach to achieve peace in Yemen hinges on ending Iran’s destabilizing influence and collective action to deter the Houthi threat, including their designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

For his part, President Rinkēvičs reiterated Latvia’s support for the Presidential Leadership Council, the government, and the people of Yemen in their aspirations for security, stability, peace, and development.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Shayea Al-Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. On the Latvian side, Ms. Baiba Braže, Foreign Minister and Ambassador Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations were present.