UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced on Tuesday that the parties to the Yemeni conflict had agreed to extend the UN-mediated truce, for an additional two months, from August until October 2022, under the same terms. "This truce extension includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible," Grundberg stated in a press release. He expressed gratitude to the leaderships of the parties for agreeing to this truce extension and for their continued constructive engagements for implementing and seeking an expansion to the truce. "I would like to reiterate my gratitude for the concerted support of the international community. I note in particular the support of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the members of the UN Security Council," he said. Grundberg unveiled that in order to consolidate the opportunity provided by the truce to pivot toward sustainable peace, he would intensify efforts with the parties to reach as soon as possible an expanded truce agreement. "I had shared with the parties a proposal for an expanded truce agreement, and received from both sides substantive comments on this proposal," he noted. The UN official stated that the expanded truce proposal would provide for reaching an agreement on a transparent and effective disbursement mechanism for the regular payment of civil servant salaries and civilian pensions, the opening of roads in Taiz and other governorates, opening additional destinations to and from Sana'a International Airport, and providing fuel and its regular flow of fuel to the ports of Hudaydah. He added that an expanded agreement would also provide an opportunity to negotiate a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic issues, and to prepare for the resumption of the Yemeni-led political process under UN auspices to reach a sustainable and just peace. "The main objective of the current truce continues to be to provide tangible relief to civilians and to create a conducive environment for reaching a peaceful settlement to the conflict through a comprehensive political process," he underlined. The UN envoy noted that in the coming weeks, he would intensify engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties' obligations in the truce. "This should include the implementation of the full number and regularity of flights between the agreed destinations and Sana'a International Airport and the number of fuel ships entering Hudaydah port, as stipulated in the truce agreement," he pointed out. "It is also important to make progress on opening roads in Taiz and other governorates to facilitate the freedom of movement of millions of Yemeni women, men and children, and of goods. The people of Taiz and across Yemen deserve for the truce to deliver for them in all its aspects." — Agencies
