EU Ambassador: President Saleh’s suggestions meet the opposition demands

By Zaid al-Alaya’a

Source: Yemen Observer

President Ali Abdullah Saleh put forward several suggestions last week in regards to the GCC brokered proposal which were positively received by the Opposition, said Michel Cervone d’Urso the EU ambassador to Yemen; adding that both parties were not only continuing the negotiation process but were committed to its implementation.

In a press conference held last Tuesday at the Taj Sheba Hotel, Michele Cervone d’Urso stressed that Yemen could not afford to waste any more time as they were already living under strain conditions. “It is time to put the political conflict aside and think about the nation first.”

 Furthermore, the ambassador confirmed that the talks held in between the General People’s Congress (GPC) and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) had reached an advanced level. D’Urso further added that although President Saleh wished to better study the matter of the transfer of his executive powers to Vice-President Abdu Rabbo Mansoor Hadi, the organization of early elections and the formation of a coalition government, those points had been agreed upon on principle.

In regards to the UN Security Council resolution 2014, which urges President Saleh to agree to the power-transfer deal brokered by the GCC, d’Urso explained that all parties needed to understand that the text needed to be taken as unit rather than taken apart.

The ambassador also said that many leaders of the Opposition had been asked to come back to Yemen pending the settlement of the current political crisis, which could be resolved before the Eid celebrations, giving Yemeni an extra element of happiness.

As for the EU and the international community, d’Urso mentioned that all eyes were on Yemen, waiting to see how the GCC proposal will be implemented on the ground and whether both sides will respect its terms. Most importantly, the diplomat stressed that only through the UNSC sponsored initiative could Yemen move forward positively, stirring clear of an armed conflict.

He added that the 2014 resolution was the first resolution since 1994 to have been agreed upon unanimously.

In response to a question put forward by the Yemen Observer, d’Urso said that any solution or compromise aimed at resolving the current crisis in Yemen had to include all the Yemeni factions, might it be the Youth, al-Houthis, the southern secessionists and all other political entities. He also urged the Youth to gather up under one umbrella.

The ambassador warned that the next challenging phase for Yemen would evolve around a constitutional debate since many political factions are calling for a revision of the current Constitution and a new definition of the country’s ruling system, either presidential or parliamentary.

He then criticized the escalation of violence in al Hasabah, sofan and other districts of the capital, Sana’a saying that the EU was very concerned indeed and that although both sides were able to quickly reach agreements they failed to implement them on the ground.

Cervone d’Urso declared that Yemenis alone could find a solution to their crisis and that it was time for them to write their own history, adding that the EU would not side with one faction or the other as it was neither its purpose nor wish.

The ambassador also elaborated on the imminent arrival of Jamal Bin Omar by saying that the latter was coming to Yemen in the next coming weeks to monitor the implementation of the UNSC resolution and to file his report back to the UN headquarters.

He urged all parties to consider the fact that Yemen 24 million citizens could no longer bare the political deadlock and that of truly there was a will, the crisis could be resolved in a matter of hours.

In regards to the attack against Sana’a International Airport, d’Urso said that such a move could not be replicated a Yemen’s gates needed to stay open to the outside World.

D’Urso expressed his concerns over the aggravated humanitarian and economic crisis deploring the inability so far of the international community to address the problem properly and in a timely manner.

Finally the diplomat called upon all journalists to shoulder their responsibilities and to commit themselves to free, neutral and independent reporting as many are warning that the Freedom of the Press is at stake in Yemen.