A new round of UN-sponsored negotiations on the file of abductees and prisoners between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militias was launched in the Omani capital, Muscat, today.
The talks, held under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), aim to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding prisoners in the conflict-ridden nation.
Majid Fadail, spokesperson for the government delegation, confirmed to Xinhua that the initial session took place during the past hours. The meeting was attended by Sarhad Fattah, deputy special envoy of the UN secretary-general to Yemen, along with representatives from the ICRC and the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia.
According to Fadail, the primary objective of these negotiations is to secure the release of all prisoners and detainees without discrimination, based on an “all-for-all” principle. He emphasized “the government delegation’s commitment to addressing this humanitarian issue responsibly.”
A key point of discussion is the fate of Mohammed Qahtan, a prominent Yemeni politician held by the Houthis nine years ago in Sanaa. The government delegation stressed that “progress in the negotiations is contingent on revealing Qahtan’s status and securing his release,” according to Fadail.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
