Yemen: Griffiths Leaves Houthi Meeting Empty-Handed
UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left a meeting
Monday with the leader of the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Sanaa empty-handed
after their leader, Abdul-Malek al-Houthi, insisted on tackling issues that
were not agreed on between warring parties in the Stockholm deal.
Among the issues he wanted to address was economic
affairs and the reopening of the Sanaa International Airport, official Houthi
sources said.
“During his meeting with Griffiths, al-Houthi wanted
to focus on disputed files to avoid implementing the Stockholm deal,” the
sources explained.
The UN envoy had arrived in Houthi-held Sanaa on
Monday, his third visit in a month, to discuss the situation in an around the
port city of Hodeidah.
His visit also aims to extend the timeline for the
implementation of the UN-brokered deal in Yemen, particularly the file
concerning the withdrawal of forces from the coastal city.
Under the Stockholm deal, the legitimate government
and Houthi militias agreed to a ceasefire in Hodeidah, which went into effect
on December 18. It also calls for the withdrawal of all forces from the city's
three ports and holding a prisoner exchange.
In a tweet Monday, Griffiths’ office wrote: “We have
seen the timelines for implementation extended, both in Hodeidah and the
prisoner exchange agreement.”
“Such changes in timelines are expected. The initial
timelines were rather ambitious. We are dealing with a complex situation on the
ground.”
In an exclusive interview published on the same day,
Griffiths told Asharq Al-Awsat there is a political will now more than ever to
end the conflict in Yemen.
“We are all on the same page that the way to do this
is through the negotiations’ table, and not the battlefield,” he said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Griffiths plans
to visit Hodeidah on Tuesday.
