SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 28 March 2024, Thursday |

Egypt Says Committed to Supporting Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi held talks in Cairo on Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Egypt is the third stop of his tour of the region.

Talks with Sisi covered security in the southern Red Sea region, with the president underscoring his country’s commitment to supporting the PLC on all levels.

Yemeni politicians stressed the strategic importance of the visit given the joint security files between Egypt and Yemen, the historic relations between them and Cairo’s political weight in the region and world.

Alimi noted that Egypt is a member of the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen.

Egypt is home to hundreds of thousands of Yemenis who fled their country in wake of the barbaric crackdown on the opposition by the Iran-backed Houthi militias, he added.

Addressing a joint press conference with Sisi, he said the militias want to take Yemen back to the time preceding that of the establishment of the national state. They want to take it back to a time when there was no equality, justice or the rule of law.

He added that talks with Sisi covered the latest efforts made by the PLC to improve living conditions in liberated Yemeni regions.

Discussions stressed that they will positively approach all United Nations peace efforts, in coordination with the Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Talks covered bolstering cooperation between Egypt and Yemen and taking advantage of Cairo’s expertise in the services sector, including education, health and construction.

He revealed that memoranda of understanding will be signed between their countries in the near future.

For his part, Sisi said he supports the PLC in reaching a fair and sustainable political solution to the crisis that secures Yemen’s peace and stability.

He underlined Egypt’s backing of Yemen that stems back to the historic relations the countries share.

Egypt is committed to the establishment of a united and independent Yemeni state that will in turn ensure stability in the region and entire Arab world, he remarked.

It supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen in line with the national dialogue outcomes, Gulf initiative, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and recent consultations that were held in Riyadh, Sisi went on to say.

He welcomed the extension of the nationwide UN-sponsored truce for another two months, praising the legitimate government for respecting its commitments in line with the ceasefire agreement.

He called on all parties to fully commit to the truce so that talks over comprehensive political solution can be kicked off in Yemen.

Moreover, he said talks stressed the need to intensify joint efforts to protect security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, Mandeb Strait and Arabian Gulf.

Yemenis welcomed Alimi’s visit to Egypt.

Media aide at the Yemeni embassy in Egypt, Baligh al-Makhlafi told Asharq Al-Awsat the visit paves the way for a new phase of cooperation between Egypt and Yemen.

The two countries enjoy strong relations and “we are looking forward for them to be strengthened in the coming phase,” he added.

He reveled that several issues are on the table and they will be tackled when the joint higher committee convenes soon.

The committee meetings will have a major impact on boosting relations, especially in regards to Yemenis living in Egypt, whose number increased after the Houthi coup, he continued.

Political analyst Mahmoud al-Taher said the timing of Alimi’s visit is significant because it will garner support for the PLC.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he predicted that Egypt will play a greater role in Yemen whether in times of peace or war.

    Source:
  • Asharq Al-Awsat