Security Council Press Statement on Yemen
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Cristián Barros Melet (Chile):
The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern about the worsening political and security crisis in Yemen. The members of the Security Council called upon all parties to implement a full and lasting ceasefire, and underscored the importance of full implementation of the terms of the Peace and National Partnership Agreement, including its Security Annex, the National Dialogue Conference Outcomes, and the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and Implementation Mechanism.
The members of the Security Council underlined that President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi is the legitimate authority based on election results and the terms of the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and Implementation Mechanism. The members of the Security Council emphasised that all parties and political actors in Yemen must stand with President Hadi, Prime Minister Bahah and Yemen’s Cabinet to keep the country on track to stability and security.
The members of the Security Council urged all the parties in Yemen to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, to reject acts of violence to achieve political goals, to refrain from provocation and to fully abide by resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012) and 2140 (2014). In this regard, the members of the Security Council fully support the efforts of the good offices of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Jamal Benomar, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council and G10 initiatives.
The members of the Security Council condemned the recourse to violence in recent days, including the use of abduction, and urged all parties in Yemen to commit to the established processes of dialogue and consultation. In particular, the members of the Security Council condemned the attack on 19 January against the Presidential Palace in Sana’a and rejected such violent efforts to undermine or interfere with Yemen’s legitimate government institutions.
The members of the Security Council further called on all sides to show restraint in Marib and to resolve their differences peacefully through the Presidential Committee and the support of the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen.
The members of the Security Council welcomed the completion of a draft constitution and its referral to the National Authority, and looked forward to the start of the public consultation on the draft. The members of the Security Council called for all parties to rapidly engage in finalizing the constitution in a constructive manner which responds to the aspirations of the Yemeni people.