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U.N. Leader Calls Yemen a ‘Ticking Bomb,’ Amid Delay in Cease-Fire Talks U.N. Leader Calls Yemen a ‘Ticking Bomb,’ Amid Delay in Cease-Fire Talks
(about 1 hour later)
GENEVA — The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, warned that Yemen was a “ticking bomb,” as efforts to start talks aimed at achieving at least a cease-fire in the country were further delayed on Monday.GENEVA — The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, warned that Yemen was a “ticking bomb,” as efforts to start talks aimed at achieving at least a cease-fire in the country were further delayed on Monday.
Mr. Ban had stopped off in Geneva to attend the start of what the United Nations has called “preliminary inclusive consultations,” originally intended to start on Sunday, between the Houthi rebel group and the Saudi-backed government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in exile.Mr. Ban had stopped off in Geneva to attend the start of what the United Nations has called “preliminary inclusive consultations,” originally intended to start on Sunday, between the Houthi rebel group and the Saudi-backed government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in exile.
Mr. Ban met separately on Monday with representatives of the ousted government and ambassadors of the so-called Group of 16 countries that are closely monitoring developments in Yemen, but he had to leave for New York without seeing the Houthi delegation after delays on their journey to Geneva.Mr. Ban met separately on Monday with representatives of the ousted government and ambassadors of the so-called Group of 16 countries that are closely monitoring developments in Yemen, but he had to leave for New York without seeing the Houthi delegation after delays on their journey to Geneva.
The 23-member Houthi-led delegation, which was understood to also include representatives of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, initially refused to board the aircraft that was supposed to bring them to Geneva. When they eventually left Sana on Sunday, the flight was delayed in Djibouti for what Mr. Ban said were logistical problems. The 23-member Houthi-led delegation, which was understood to also include representatives of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, initially refused to board the aircraft that was supposed to bring them to Geneva. When they eventually left Yemen’s capital, Sana, on Sunday, the flight was delayed in Djibouti because of what Mr. Ban said were logistical problems.
Mr. Ban told reporters before leaving that the Houthi delegation was scheduled to reach Geneva later in the day, and he warned the parties that quick work toward an agreement was imperative.Mr. Ban told reporters before leaving that the Houthi delegation was scheduled to reach Geneva later in the day, and he warned the parties that quick work toward an agreement was imperative.
“Yemen’s very existence hangs in the balance. While parties bicker, Yemen burns,” he told reporters. “We don’t have a minute to lose. The ticking clock is not a timepiece it’s a ticking bomb.”“Yemen’s very existence hangs in the balance. While parties bicker, Yemen burns,” he told reporters. “We don’t have a minute to lose. The ticking clock is not a timepiece it’s a ticking bomb.”
Mr. Ban said the goals of the consultations were a humanitarian pause that would allow aid to reach impoverished civilians, a longer term cease-fire and the resumption of a political dialogue leading to a negotiated solution to the conflict. Mr. Ban said the goals of the consultations were a humanitarian pause that would allow aid to reach impoverished civilians, a longer-term cease-fire and the resumption of a political dialogue leading to a negotiated solution to the conflict.
But such is the gulf dividing the two sides that the consultations are due to start with “proximity talks,” in which the warring factions do not meet face to face but sit in separate rooms as mediators shuttle between them.But such is the gulf dividing the two sides that the consultations are due to start with “proximity talks,” in which the warring factions do not meet face to face but sit in separate rooms as mediators shuttle between them.
As delegates and diplomats assembled in Geneva over the weekend, fierce fighting continued in many areas of Yemen, a nation of 26 million. Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition continued against rebel positions, including in the northern province of Saada, the central city of Dhamar and in the province of Jawf in the northwest, where the Houthis took control of the provincial capital on Sunday. Mr. Hadi’s foreign minister, Riyadh Yaseen, told reporters after meeting Mr. Ban that there could be a limited cease-fire, but only after Houthi militias had withdrawn their forces from all Yemen’s cities, halted fighting in the southern city of Aden and other locations, and released their prisoners. “Without this, nothing can happen,” he said.
Mr. Yaseen also ruled out any direct meeting with the Houthi-led delegation. “It is impossible,” he said.
As delegates and diplomats assembled in Geneva over the weekend, fierce fighting continued in many areas of Yemen, a nation of 26 million. Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition continued against rebel positions, including in the northwestern province of Saada, the central city of Dhamar and in the province of Jawf, also in the northwest, where the Houthis took control of the provincial capital on Sunday.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, highlighted the urgent need for a cease-fire to ease the plight of civilians facing what aid agencies have warned is a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation.The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, highlighted the urgent need for a cease-fire to ease the plight of civilians facing what aid agencies have warned is a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation.
Mr. al-Hussein, whose previous comments on the conflict have reportedly angered Saudi Arabia, told the United Nations Human Rights Council that his office had received reports that “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks are being used on densely populated areas.”Mr. al-Hussein, whose previous comments on the conflict have reportedly angered Saudi Arabia, told the United Nations Human Rights Council that his office had received reports that “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks are being used on densely populated areas.”
The blockade on imports of fuel, food and medicine, which the Saudi-led coalition has maintained in a bid to cut off arms supplies to rebel forces, “should be lifted immediately,” Mr. al-Hussein said. The blockade on imports of fuel, food and medicine, which the Saudi-led coalition has maintained in a bid to cut off arms supplies to rebel forces, “should be lifted immediately,” Mr. Hussein said.