A number of Gulf and Arab states on Thursday welcomed the Yemeni president's decision to transfer his powers to a new presidential council.
Saudi Arabia welcomed the announcement of Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi on launching the presidential council under the Yemeni constitution and the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms.
The Kingdom confirmed its full support for the council and its supporting entities to enable it to exercise its duties in implementing effective policies and initiatives to achieve security and stability in Yemen and end the crisis.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry further welcomed the announcement to form a Yemeni presidential leadership council to proceed with the duties of the transitional period, and delegating the council with all powers of the president of the republic.
In a statement, the Ministry expressed full support to the council and its efforts to achieve stability, peace, and security for Yemen and its people.
Also, Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed Hadi's decision to transfer his powers to a newly established leadership council.
Ministry's spokesperson Haitham Abu Ful said that Jordan supports all efforts to reach a political solution for the Yemeni crisis, based on the GCC initiative, the Yemeni Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and the UN Security Council resolution No. 2216.
For his part, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf hailed the decision, affirming the GCC's support to the new leadership council to enable it to practice all duties that would achieve security and stability in Yemen and end the Yemeni crisis so that the Yemeni people would enjoy prosperity, development and peace.
He wished the presidential leadership council, led by Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi and its members, all success in carrying out its national responsibilities, especially at this historical stage, to serve Yemen and its people.
Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit also welcomed the announcement, stressing full support to the new leadership council, saying it embodies the Yemeni legitimacy and expressing hope for the council to lead the country towards realizing peace.
Aboul Gheit also called on all Yemeni parties to preserve the current truce, as a first step to engage in serious negotiations to end the suffering of the Yemeni people, restore stability and security in the country, and ensure that Yemen does not pose any threat to its neighboring countries.
