Security Council Press Statement on Friends of Yemen

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Peter Wittig (Germany):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the 27 September 2012 Friends of Yemen Ministerial meeting as well as its co-Chairs statement, and commended the substantial progress made by the Government of Yemen in implementing the transition agreement.  They also reaffirmed their commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of Yemen.  

The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for Yemen in its efforts to reach key milestones in the implementation plan, including the upcoming National Dialogue Conference, adoption of the transitional justice law, setting up of a new electoral commission, and ongoing security sector reform.  They called upon all parties to continue to honour the timetable set out in the agreement and for all sides to act in a transparent, peaceful, inclusive and timely manner, and in a spirit of reconciliation.

The members of the Security Council re-emphasized the importance of conducting a fully-inclusive, participatory, transparent and meaningful national dialogue conference including with youth and women’s groups and called upon all stakeholders in Yemen to participate actively and constructively in this process.  They welcomed the continued engagement of the good offices of the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser Jamal Benomar in support of this process.

The members of the Security Council urged all the parties in Yemen to reject acts of violence to achieve political goals, to refrain from provocations and to abide by resolutions 2014 (2011) and 2051 (2012).  They expressed increasing concern about efforts to undermine the National Unity Government as it endeavours to implement the political transition agreement and reiterated their readiness to consider further measures, including under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter, if such actions continued.  They repeated their call that all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses must be held accountable. 

The members of the Security Council welcomed the more than $7 billion pledged at the Riyadh donor conference as well as the Friends of Yemen meeting and the Government of Yemen’s agreement to a Mutual Accountability Framework setting out commitments from the Government and donors to ensure that these additional resources deliver support to Yemen’s people.  They reiterated their grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Yemen, including severe food insecurity, alarming levels of malnutrition and increasing numbers of internally displaced persons.  They also reiterated that all parties should ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

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For information media • not an official record