Optimism as Yemen Govt., Houthis Expected to Reach Prisoner Swap Deal

Arab World

February 26th, 8:19am

Amman - Asharq Al-Awsat

Detainees wait for their release by the Houthis at the central prison of Sanaa, Yemen September 30, 2019. (Reuters)

A Yemeni government source expected on Tuesday that ongoing negotiations in Jordan between the legitimate government and Houthis should complete the final lists to swap more than a thousand detainees under the auspices of the United Nations. “There is optimism that the two sides will reach a final agreement on the lists of names that should be released, despite the ongoing Houthi obstacles,” the informed source told Asahrq Al-Awsat. He said that negotiators at the office of UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths are exerting efforts to dispel any disputes over the list of names, despite obstruction by the Iran-backed Houthi militias. The source failed to set a final date for the release of the list, but he expected it will be soon. On Feb. 16, the warring parties signed an agreement in Jordan to swap more than 1,400 detainees under the auspices of the United Nations. However, questions arose about their commitment to its implementation. Yemeni Undersecretary of Ministry of Human Rights Majed Fada'el told Asharq Al-Awsat that an agreement over a swap deal should lead to the release of all prisoners. The Yemeni Foreign Ministry said the government has all along sought an exchange of all prisoners held by both sides, calling on Griffiths and the International Committee of the Red Cross to mediate an exchange. “I urge the parties to move forward with the exchange they agreed on today with the utmost sense of urgency. Progress has been too slow on this front. The pain of the thousands awaiting reunion with their loved ones must end,” Griffiths had previously stated. In line with a deal reached in Stockholm in December 2018, the Houthis agreed with the legitimate government to swap prisoners as a confidence-building step. But the arrangement has stalled with the government accusing the Houthis of hindering any comprehensive agreement on implementing the swap. Each side was meant to release around 7,000 prisoners.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2150341/optimism-yemen-govt-houthis-expected-reach-prisoner-swap-deal