Egypt welcomes Saudi initiative for comprehensive political solution in Yemen

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, affirms its total rejection of any Iranian interference in region, specifically in Yemen

Egypt has welcomed the initiative announced by Saudi Arabia to end the crisis in Yemen, which also aims to reach a comprehensive political solution in the country.
This includes a number of steps, such as a comprehensive ceasefire, and the opening of Sana'a Airport for a number of flights.
The new initiative includes a nationwide ceasefire that will be implemented under the supervision of the United Nations (UN).
Egypt noted its appreciation of Saudi Arabia's sincere efforts and its keenness to reach a comprehensive settlement in Yemen that will end its protracted political and humanitarian crisis.
It also praised Saudi efforts to prioritise the interests of the Yemeni people, and to create an atmosphere for a resumed political process, in order to reach a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Yemen.
Egypt called on all Yemeni parties to respond to the Saudi initiative, which only aims to support efforts to bring peace to the country.
Saudi's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal Bin Farhan announced a new initiative, on Monday, that will work towards ending the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political resolution.
The new initiative includes a nationwide ceasefire that will be implemented under UN supervision, Prince Faisal said during a press conference in Riyadh.
Political negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Iran-backed Houthi militia will also resume under the initiative, Prince Faisal added.
"We will work with the international community, with our partners and with the government of Yemen to push toward this initiative being implemented," he said, "We will do all we can to put the necessary pressure on the Houthis to accept and to come to the negotiating table and to lay down arms, because we believe that a stop to the fighting and a focus on a political solution is the only way forward."
The initiative continues Saudi Arabia's concern for the security and stability of Yemen and the region. It represents serious and practical steps to support peace in Yemen, and put an end to the crisis.
It also aims to end the Yemeni people's suffering, whilst affirming Saudi Arabia's support for efforts to reach a comprehensive political resolution between the Yemeni parties in line with discussions in Biel, Geneva, Kuwait, and Stockholm.
The initiative includes the following proposals:
• A comprehensive ceasefire across the country under the supervision of the UN;
• Depositing taxes and custom revenues for ships carrying oil derivatives to the port of Hodeidah in the joint account of the Central Bank of Yemen in Hodeidah, in accordance with the Stockholm Agreement on Hodeidah;
• The reopening of Sanaa International Airport to a number of direct regional and international destinations; and,
• The start of consultations between the Yemeni parties to reach a political resolution to the crisis under the UN's auspices, and based on the references of UN Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanism, and the outcomes of the Yemeni national dialogue.
This initiative comes as part of the continuous support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and US envoy to Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, along with Oman's positive role. There has also been a push to reach a political resolution to the crisis under the auspices of the UN.
Saudi Arabia has called on the Yemeni government and the Houthis to accept the initiative, which gives the Houthis the opportunity to stop the bloodshed in Yemen. This will be implemented under the supervision and monitoring of the UN.
It seeks to address the humanitarian and economic conditions that the Yemeni people are suffering from, and give them the opportunity to become partners in achieving peace.
The initiative provides the Houthis with an opportunity to uphold the Yemeni people's interests first, as well as their right to sovereignty and the independence of their homeland over the Iranian regime's expansionary ambitions in the country and the region.
Saudi Arabia has also affirmed its full right to defend its land and citizens from the systematic attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against civilian areas and vital installations.
These not only target the Kingdom's national interests, but also the core of the global economy and its supplies, as well as global energy security.
Saudi Arabia has, meanwhile, affirmed its total rejection of Iranian interference in the region, and specifically in Yemen.
The Iranian regime's support for the Houthi militia through smuggling, developing and supplying missiles and weapons, providing military experts, and violating relevant Security Council resolutions, remains the main reason for the prolonging of the Yemeni crisis.
Saudi Arabia and the coalition countries affirm their continued support for the Yemeni people and their legitimate government.