The United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced today that peace talks for Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations will resume on 18 April in Kuwait.

The talks aim to reach a comprehensive agreement, which will end the armed conflict and allow the resumption of inclusive political dialogue in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) and other relevant UNSC resolutions. The face-to-face negotiations will provide a mechanism for a return to a peaceful and orderly transition based on the GCC Initiative and the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference.

The Special Envoy said: “The war in Yemen must be brought to an end before it does irreparable damage to the future of Yemen and the region.” He added: “I am pleased to announce today that the parties to the conflict have agreed to declare a nation-wide cessation of hostilities beginning at midnight on 10 April, in advance of the upcoming round of the peace talks, which will take place on 18 April in Kuwait.” Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed also urged the parties to maintain good faith, flexibility and a spirit of compromise and patriotism, to enable a political solution and a way out of the present conflict.

Recent weeks had seen a significant reduction in armed activities along the Saudi-Yemeni border, accompanied by other positive confidence building measures. The Special Envoy noted that the parties have also undertaken to reinforce the De-escalation and Coordination Committee, which was established in Switzerland during the last round of talks, and which will work to support and bolster adherence to the Cessation of Hostilities through coordination and exchange of relevant information.

The Special Envoy emphasized the need to allow safe, rapid and immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, and for greater respect for international humanitarian law by all parties.

The previous round of UN-mediated talks for Yemen took place in Biel, Switzerland in December 2015. 

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Charbel Raji, Communication Advisor

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