The United Nations has urged the warring sides in Yemen to seize the opportunity created by the UN-brokered truce and take more serious steps toward realization of a permanent peace in the war-ravaged country.
Speaking on Sunday, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg described a truce that was brokered by the world body between the invading coalition and Yemen’s National Salvation Government last April as a “moment of hope,” despite the fact that it has not been renewed since October last year.
The UN official said the truce is largely holding despite its expiry, urging the warring parties to use it as a ground for achieving a lasting political settlement to the conflict.
“The truce’s most significant promise is its potential to jumpstart an inclusive political process aimed at comprehensively and sustainably ending the conflict,” Grundberg said.
Yemen’s armed forces have said they would remain committed to the truce as long as the other parties to the conflict respected it too.
“At this critical time, any new temporary or partial arrangement needs to include a clear commitment from the parties that ensures it is a step on the course of a peaceful solution… in an inclusive political process,” the UN official noted.
Grundberg added, “More than ever, now is the time for dialogue, compromises, and a demonstration of leadership and serious will to achieve peace.”
