Scepticism over Yemen peace talks
49 views · Published 12 December 2018 · 1:53 · Indexed 31 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(6 Dec 2018) LEADIN: UN-backed Yemen peace talks have begun in Sweden. But observers are sceptical the negotiations will bring success after many previous failed attempts to end the war. STORYLINE: Representatives from Yemen's warring sides are in the same room in Sweden, their first meeting in years. The UN-sponsored peace talks in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, aim to setup "a framework for negotiations" on a future peace agreement. But after many previous failures to end Yemen's catastrophic three-year war, some observers are sceptical. "I think that these talks will be the same as the ones that have happened previously in Kuwait and Geneva," says Waheeb Al-Nosari, Editor-in-chief of online website for Yemeni news, Mushahed Net. He also complains that the parties are discussing "side and partial issues, and not the main issue, which is stopping the war." UN officials have sought to downplay expectations from the talks, saying they don't expect rapid progress toward a political settlement but hope for at least minor steps that would help to address Yemen's worsening humanitarian crisis. Both the internationally-recognised government, which is backed by a US-sponsored and Saudi-led coalition, and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels say they are striving for peace. "I think the main obstacles are, first of all, a lack of seriousness on the part of the Houthis, and secondly, either sides of the conflict have no confidence in each other," says Al-Nosari. "The Yemeni street looks to the United Nations as not being able to solve any Arab, or even world, issue. The Palestinian issue has been at the United Nations for 50 years and it still hasn't been solved." In a positive sign, the UN envoy said the sides had agreed on a prisoner exchange as a first step toward building confidence. The fighting in Yemen has generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis and claimed at least 10,000 lives, with experts estimating a much higher toll. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f93164cfb3711234c13a96c21f5fb41e
