Sisi affirms Egypt’s support to Yemeni presidential council in achieving political solution to national crisis
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has stressed Egypt’s support to the efforts of the recently-introduced Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to reach a fair, political, and sustainable solution to the Yemeni crisis.
In a press conference in Cairo with head of the eight-member council Rashad Al-Alimi, Sisi reiterated support to the PLC’s efforts to bring peace and stability to the country and put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people.
“I would like to express my and Egypt’s support to you in this mission with its heavy responsibility that you (the PLC members) are shouldering to achieve the interest of the brotherly Yemeni people,” Sisi said during the conference.
The president voiced full support to the Yemeni unity, independence, and territorial integrity, affirming that Yemen’s stability is of a great importance to Egypt and the Arab World entirely.
Sisi also reiterated that Egypt welcomes the UN-sponsored truce extension announced early in June in Yemen, calling on the Yemeni parties to abide by the agreement.
Sisi also affirmed Egypt’s support for all efforts that aim to achieve peace in the sisterly Arab country according to the references of the Yemeni National Dialogue, the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the results of the recent Yemeni consultations in Riyadh under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
“I call on all parties to fully implement the terms of the agreement as this represents a positive development that can be built upon to launch a comprehensive political process in Yemen,” Sisi said.
The Egyptian president pointed out to Egypt’s decision in May to resume direct flights between Cairo and Sanaa with the first flight taking off earlier this month.
“Egypt’s response is an affirmation of the keenness to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and to support all efforts that are in their favor,” he said.
Sisi said Egypt will spare no effort in supporting Yemen and is keen to provide the sisterly country will all aspects of support, especially through the training of the Yemeni human cadres as well as providing medical and food assistance.
Sisi added that he discussed with Alimi cooperation between Egypt and Yemen in various fields, especially infrastructure development and energy projects as well as the mechanisms to activate these projects.
Sisi noted that he also agreed with Alimi on the need for intensifying joint action to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Arabian Gulf as part of the regional and international stability and security.
The discussions between him and Alimi also addressed the need for concerted global efforts to resolve the Safer oil tanker crisis and the multifaceted threats it poses as soon as possible, the president said.
This should be carried out by providing the necessary support and funding for the relevant UN plan, the president added.
For his part, Alimi hailed Egypt’s support to Yemen within the framework of the pro-constitutional legitimacy alliance with the aim of helping restoring the Yemeni state and foiling the “Iran-backed coup”.
“I convey to you the greetings and appreciation of the Yemeni people for this brotherly country that was always there to defend the north and the independence of the south from colonialism and Egypt was the country that contributed to the rebuilding of state institutions in 1962,” Alimi stated.
He noted that he spoke with Sisi about the recent developments in Yemen and the PLC’s efforts to improve the situation in the country, highlighting the efforts to achieve peace in coordination with the Saudi and Emirati led alliance to back legitimacy in Yemen.
Alimi also expressed Yemen’s solidarity with Egypt’s water rights, saying Yemen has expressed its fixed stance to support Egypt and the Egyptian people’s water rights during the international and regional forums.
Alimi arrived on Friday night to Cairo coming from Bahrain as part of a foreign tour for the head of the PLC, which was introduced in April to succeed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
In April, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi conceded power to the eight-member PLC led by Alimi in an effort to stabilize the country and face the Houthis.
Since then, Yemen has seen a relatively quiet situation in light of a UN-sponsored truce between the Yemeni internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, which have been fighting since 2015.
Egypt has welcomed the truce, expressing hope that this truce would contribute to supporting political solutions and efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement for the crisis in Yemen.
Late in May, Alimi praised Egypt’s efforts under President Sisi to host thousands of Yemenis in light of the ongoing war, Yemen News Agency (SABA) reported.
Egypt last month also announced allowing direct flights between Cairo and Sanaa for the first time since the conflict started, a step that has been hailed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Early in June, US President Joe Biden hailed the role played by each of Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in making the UN-led truce in war-torn Yemen possible.
In a statement on the UN-mediated truce extension in Yemen, Biden hailed the decision made by Egypt and Jordan last month to open their airports to flights from Yemen “thereby enabling a key component of the truce process”.
