The United Nations says Yemen’s warring parties agreed Tuesday to renew an existing truce for another two months after international concerted efforts.
The UN's envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said in a statement that Yemen’s legitimate government and the Iran-backed Houthi militias agreed to extend the truce for two more months.
"This truce extension includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible," he added.
"I have shared with the parties a proposal for an expanded truce agreement, and I have received from both sides substantive comments on this proposal," he revealed.
The expanded truce proposal would provide for reaching an agreement on a transparent and effective disbursement mechanism for the regular payment of civil servant salaries and civilian pensions, the opening of roads in Taiz and other governorates, opening additional destinations to and from Sanaa International Airport, and providing fuel and its regular flow of fuel to the ports of Hodeidah, he said.
"An expanded agreement would also provide an opportunity to negotiate a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic issues, and to prepare for the resumption of the Yemeni-led political process under UN auspices to reach a sustainable and just peace," he continued.
"The main objective of the current truce continues to be to provide tangible relief to civilians and to create a conducive environment for reaching a peaceful settlement to the conflict through a comprehensive political process."
Grundberg said that in the coming weeks he will intensify his engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties’ obligations in the truce.
"This should include the implementation of the full number and regularity of flights between the agreed destinations and Sanaa International Airport and the number of fuel ships entering Hodeidah port, as stipulated in the truce agreement," he remarked.
"It is also important to make progress on opening roads in Taiz and other governorates to facilitate the freedom of movement of millions of Yemeni women, men and children, and of goods," he went on to say.
"The people of Taiz and across Yemen deserve for the truce to deliver for them in all its aspects," he stressed.
"I would like to reiterate my gratitude for the concerted support of the international community. I note in particular the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the members of the UN Security Council," said the envoy.
"I count on the continued cooperation of the parties to meet their commitments and implement all elements of the truce and to negotiate in good faith to reach an expanded truce agreement, and to put Yemen on a path to sustainable peace. The Yemeni people deserve no less," he stated.
