Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at UNSC briefing on the situation in Yemen

Mr.President,

We thank Special Envoy of the Secretary-general Mr. Hans Grundberg, Acting Director of OCHA Operations and Advocacy Division Ms. Ghada Mudawi, as well as Ms. Azal Al-Salafi for their briefings on the situation in Yemen.

We continue to monitor the situation in that country very closely. Recently, Yemen’s protracted military and political conflict has shown some positive trends. We welcome the agreement made by the governing Presidential Council and “Ansar Allah” movement on prolongation of a truce for another two months. We realize that this was a hard-won compromise for Yemenis, which makes it even more valuable. The trilateral Military Coordination Committee resumed its operations almost immediately to observe the UN-backed truce and implementation of ceasefire provisions. We find it rather reassuring that the Committee agreed to establish a working group for operative communications on issues related to violations of the silence regime. It is essential that the talks do not stall.

We specifically highlight the role of SESG Grundberg, whose efforts contributed a lot to endorsement and implementation of provisions of the Truce Agreement. My country will keep assisting you, Mr.Grundberg, in your challenging work as mediator.

We are convinced that implementation of all conditions of the truce by the sides and rejection of unilateral provocations will make it possible to keep positive momentum in addressing the Yemeni crisis and proceed with a full-fledged comprehensive political settlement. Long-term cessation of hostilities would facilitate favorable conditions for serious political talks about the future of the country.

Unfortunately, everything is not as seamless as we would want it to be. Continuing talks between the Presidential Council and the Houthis under UN mediation that seek for ways to unblock roads to Taiz have not effected any desired results yet. We hope that a well-weighed and realistic approach of the sides to this sensitive matter will help them find some common ground.

Mr.President,

We reiterate our firm position that there is (and can be) no alternative to inter-Yemeni talks that should take into account interests and concerns of all parties to conflict. This is a mandatory requirement for stabilization in the country and its return to a peaceful life. Representatives of the Presidential Council should set forth a direct dialogue with “Ansar Allah”.

We keep engaging our diplomatic resources in order to interact actively with the Presidential Council and Houthi leaders and encourage both sides to adopt a constructive approach and be ready for a compromise in order to achieve general normalization in the region.

Mr.President, 

We are concerned over a dire socio-economic situation in Yemen, that the UN calls the world’s worse humanitarian crisis. Steps need to be made towards lifting restrictions on deliveries of food, medicines, and other basic necessity items to all areas of Yemen on a non-discriminatory basis, regardless of who controls this or that particular territory. We note mediator efforts of regional stakeholders, who help Yemenis at financial and humanitarian tracks.

In conclusion, we would like to remind of UNSC resolution 598 and other initiatives aimed at sub-regional stabilization, including the renewed Russian collective security concept.

Thank you.