President Al-Alimi discusses with UK Foreign Secretary national and regional developments

  Riyadh

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council along with Council member Dr. Abdullah Al-Allimi,, received today, Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, to discuss latest national and regional developments of common interest.

The meeting touched upon long-standing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of strengthening them in all fields. In addition to the required Uk’s  support to improve Yemeni economy and alleviate the humanitarian suffering caused by the Iran- backed Houthi militias.

The UK Foreign Secretary was briefed by the President of the Presidential Leadership Council and  the Council member, on latest Yemeni developments, including opportunities for UN- led peace efforts based on the results of the efforts of the brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the the Houthi militias continue their escalation on this regard.

His Excellency the President praised UK’s leading role as a penholder at the UN Security Council. He also  praised UK’s  supportive positions for  Yemeni people, their political leadership, and their right to restore state institutions, security, stability, and development. 

The president of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Council member stated the underlying reasons behind the Houthi militia's attacks on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, their profound ‏ implications on ‏commodity supply chain and deteriorating living conditions of Yemeni people.

President Al- Alimi warned of the risks of the continued flow of Iranian weapons and smuggled funds to the Houthi militias and the affiliated international terrorist organizations. His Excellency stressed the importance of moving the international approach when dealing with the Yemeni file to more strict punitive measures against the rogue militias in addition to strictly implement relevant international legitimacy resolutions, especially Resolution 2216.

The President reaffirmed that implementing international resolutions and supporting the a UN member- legitimate government, should be the one and safest way to secure international shipping lanes and restore port cities that have been used by the  terrorist militias as platforms for threatening maritime security and global peace.

President Al- Alimi emphasized the Presidential Leadership Council and the government's keenness on consultations and full coordination with the United Kingdom and the international community to limit any side effects for  designating the Houthi militias as a terrorist organization. He also confirmed government's commitment to  ensure the flow of goods and services, free movement of  relief agencies and humanitarian community, with the  commitment to an open approach to all initiatives aimed at bringing about a just and comprehensive peace that the Yemeni people deserve.

For his part, the UK foreign secretary,, affirmed UK’s  strong commitment to support the efforts of the Presidential Leadership Council and the government aimed at restoring state institutions and continuing UK’s  humanitarian and developmental interventions at all levels. Secretary Cameron also stressed his country's knees on the region’s security and stability, freedom of global shipping, and supporting UN Special Envoy’s   efforts to launch a comprehensive political process that meets the aspirations of all Yemenis.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic. For the British side, Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, and Ms. Abda Sharif , UK's Ambassador to Yemen.