RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has provided the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council with a mechanism to accelerate work in implementing the Riyadh Agreement, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Wednesday citing an official Saudi source. The mechanism presented by Saudi Arabia stipulates that the STC abandon its self-rule and appoint a governor for Aden, the formation of a new government that will equally represent the north and the south of Yemen, and tasking the Yemeni premier with forming a government within 30 days. The efforts to bring the two parties to agree to the mechanism were carried out with the active participation of the United Arab Emirates. Both parties have responded and expressed their agreement to this mechanism and agreed to start work on it, according to the source. The source added that Saudi Arabia appreciates the positive response of the Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the delegations of the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council. The source confirmed the continued support of the Kingdom-led coalition for the legitimate Yemeni government and the continued efforts of the United Nations to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the three references and in accordance with what the Yemeni people agree upon. In response to a mechanism presented by Saudi Arabia to accelerate the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, the STC announces its abandonment of self-rule in the southern Yemen. The STC affirmed its support for the coalition's efforts in implementing the Riyadh Agreement. "We affirm the deepening of our partnership with the coalition to fight Iranian interference and terrorist groups, secure shipping lines — the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al-Mandab — prevent smuggling and export chaos across the country," the STC said in a statement.
