Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Oman are negotiating with the Houthi leader to establish peace in neighboring Yemen, which is suffering from a civil war.
According to Arab News, the delegations of Saudi Arabia and Oman reached Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, on Sunday for peace talks.
A Yemeni government official told Arab News that the delegations will present the Houthis with a draft peace agreement that has been approved by the internationally recognized government.
The proposals made by Saudi officials call for a six-month extension of the UN-brokered ceasefire, direct UN-backed talks between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, and a two-year transition period.
The proposed peace deal also proposes lifting restrictions on Houthi-controlled airports and ports, paying compensation to officials in Houthi-controlled areas, and opening roads to Taza and other provinces.
Last week, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council backed Saudi Arabia’s peace ideas, but stressed that any talks with the Houthis should lead to a comprehensive and long-term peace deal rather than a short-term ceasefire. should be taken to did not violate the contract.
The arrival of the two delegations for negotiations in Sana’a coincided with the announcement that Saudi Arabia has released 13 prisoners of the Houthi militia in exchange for the release of one Saudi prisoner.
Likewise, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said the Saudi-Iran peace deal has accelerated peace efforts in Yemen and encouraged the Houthis to “seriously” address critical issues.
The Yemeni foreign minister said that the Houthis changed their behavior after the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and decided to exchange prisoners with their opponents.
In the past, the Houthis have previously refused to heed appeals and proposals to release prisoners.
“This time, for the first time, we observed a serious approach to solving the problem, which we see as a positive development,” the Yemeni foreign minister said.
Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak said the Houthis also turned to peace after failing to capture oil and gas-rich Marib and other Yemeni cities. He urged Iran to end its military support to the Houthis and promote peace in Yemen.
“Yemen is the perfect place to demonstrate that Iran is abandoning its regional expansionist ambitions.”
