UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The United Nations will convene a conference in Geneva, Switzerland on June 14 to resolve the conflict in Yemen, a statement issued Saturday on the UN website said.
Earlier, various diplomatic sources stated the UN-backed talks on Yemeni reconciliation were supposed to take place until June 18 before the start of Ramadan.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the readiness of President Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi, as communicated to his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in Riyadh, to send a delegation to participate in United Nations-facilitated Yemeni-Yemeni consultations in Geneva starting on 14 June,” the statement read.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent call on all Yemeni parties to engage in these consultations in good faith and without pre-conditions in the interest of all Yemeni people. He hopes that the meeting in Geneva will restart a peaceful, orderly, inclusive and Yemeni-led transition process,” the UN statement highlighted.
Yemen has been in turmoil since Shiite Houthi rebels seized its capital Sanaa and forced the government out in January.
An effort to bring the warring parties in Yemen to negotiating table was made by neighbouring Oman. The Arab monarchy has been mediating multilateral consultations between the Houthis, Iran, Saudi Arabia and reportedly US diplomats to encourage peace talks that the United Nations is planning to organize in Geneva, Switzerland.
