Yemen Calls for a New European Approach to Resolve the Crisis

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak has called for a new European "approach" to help resolve the Yemeni crisis, focusing on political and economic support for the country's government, which represents all Yemenis. In an article published in the "EU Observer" and translated by the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, he stated that this approach should also be based on "creating a full partnership with the Yemeni government to achieve peace, and exerting pressure on the Houthi militia to change its behavior and accept the peace plan to end the war, cease hostilities, and achieve national reconciliation." Bin Mubarak emphasized that the negative stance and actions of the Houthi militia toward peace "must change." On Wednesday, the Security Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate of the UN mission in Yemen. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Swedish diplomat Hans Grundberg as the new special envoy to Yemen, succeeding British diplomat Martin Griffiths, who concluded his duties at the end of June. The appointment of special envoys by the Secretary-General requires the approval of the five permanent members of the Security Council: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Grundberg has served as the EU ambassador to Yemen since early September 2019 and previously led European Commission missions in Cairo and Israel.