The UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has called on the parties participating in the peace consultations in Kuwait to take decisive decisions to authenticate their intentions for resolving the Yemeni crisis, WAM reported. Cheikh Ahmed, addressing a session of the resumed consultations, said that the groups should substantiate good intentions for settling the crisis according to the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, other relevant resolutions, the GCC initiative and outcome of the national dialogue. Expressing gratitude to the parties for returning to the negotiating table, the UN envoy confirmed that the new round of talks, expected for another two weeks, would focus on "maintaining cessation of combat actions in a full and comprehensive manner, activate the pacification committee and other commissions namely the military one tasked with overseeing fighters' withdrawal, arms handover and opening safe passage routes for dispatch of humanitarian aid". In the meantime, Cheikh Ahmed added, the prisoners committee will pursue its tasks, in the shadow of calls from the international community to release prisoners and detainees as soon as possible. Over the past two weeks, the UN special envoy said, intensives meetings have been held in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman, discussing a host of political, security, economic and humanitarian issues, indicating that President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi was involved in some of the talks with the Yemeni leaders and the parties' representatives. Cheikh Ahmed added that he himself had held talks with the GCC Secretary-General, Dr. Abdulatif Al-Zayani, and other political figures. He expressed deep gratitude to the Emir of Kuwait, the Government and people, for ensuring continuity of the consultations, and extended this appreciation to Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA. "We are at a critical period of time where you are being watched by the Yemeni and international communities," he said, addressing the conferees. He cautioned that the Yemeni people are awaiting actions, rather than words, warning against renewed breaches of the truce. "The eyes of the Yemenis are pinned on you; do not go back without peace."
