Saudi Arabia to host conference to address Yemen crisis
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Saudi Arabia expressed on Saturday its support for the request made by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, backed by Saudi Arabia, to host a conference aimed at resolving the crisis in southern Yemen.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Saudi Arabia invites all southern components to actively participate in the conference to find a comprehensive solution that ensures a fair resolution to the southern issue and meets the legitimate aspirations of the southern people, according to Reuters.
The Yemeni news agency, Saba, reported that Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the Saudi-backed Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, had submitted a request to the Kingdom to host a conference aimed at resolving the crisis in the south.
Al-Alimi expressed his hope that the conference would include all southern components, forces, and figures without exception, including the Southern Transitional Council.
On Friday, the Southern Transitional Council announced its intention to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years.
In a statement, the council declared the start of a two-year transitional phase, calling on the international community to sponsor dialogue between the concerned parties in the south and north, to establish a path and mechanisms that guarantee the rights of the southern people within the specified timeframe.
The council added that the transitional phase would be accompanied by a popular referendum to exercise the right to self-determination for the southern people through peaceful, transparent methods in line with international practices and with the participation of international observers.
This announcement comes as the government is moving to regain control of the strategic Hadramawt Governorate, one of the key regions taken over by the Southern Transitional Council last month.