Head of Yemen Reconciliation Commission to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Keen on Peace, Stability

Interviews

April 26th, 5:36am

Riyadh - Abdulhadi Habtor

Head of the Consultations and Reconciliation Commission Mohammed al-Ghaithi.

Head of the Consultations and Reconciliation Commission of the Yemen Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Mohammed al-Ghaithi revealed that the body will work on preserving the unity of all forces and political powers. In his first remarks to the media since his appointment, he told Asharq Al-Awsat that the PLC will rely on the commission in carrying out its duties and tasks. The PLC is keen on the participation of all sides in consultations and decision-making. The people are hoping for real change, summed up by the liberation of the North and stability in southern provinces, binging an end to Iran's agenda in Yemen and protecting the security and peace of the region and its future, he stressed. Moreover, he noted that even though the Iran-backed Houthi militias receive their orders from Tehran, the PLC is seeking real peace. Ghaithi warned that if the militias choose to return to war, then they will be faced with a conflict unlike what they have seen before. The current stage demanded that all anti-Houthi forces stand united, meaning the commission must maintain the stances of the joint forces and political groups that make them up. This is very important, he stressed, especially since "we have shared goals in achieving peace and confronting Houthi intransigence. No one can dispute this. We all need the cooperation of all forces to stabilize the economy and achieve internal security, unite media political discourse and effectively activate state institutions." He explained that the members and chairman of the PLC were chosen through consensus, which "gives us hope that consensus would mark this very critical phase in Yemen." "Even though I am a member of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which I am very proud of, today I am representing the expectations and views of all parties," he stated. "I will be keen on consensus and rapprochement at all times," he told Asharq Al-Awsat. Furthermore, Ghaithi said consensus does not eliminate various security, political, economic and social priorities. For example, he explained that the case of the people of the South does not contradict the need to stand united in confronting the Houthis or reforming the economy. The southerners will determine their political future through their own will and this applies to all other parties. The PLC is keen on the participation of all sides in the consultations and decision-making, he added. "This is an extraordinary phase and I am very optimistic." The people have high expectations from the PLC and "we are responsible before God and history," he remarked. "The changes must be collectively introduce." "I am speaking here of real change that can be felt by the people. This includes the liberation of the northern provinces, defeating Iran, protecting the security and future of the region and respecting the will of the people, without exception, in the South and the North," stated Ghaithi. Turning to Saudi Arabia, he described Riyadh as a "peacemaker". The Yemeni people flocked to Riyadh for the consultations earlier this month and they returned from it united. As a member of the STC, he stressed that "we are always keen on success and supporting the efforts of our brothers in Saudi Arabia. This is a firm principle in our policy and stances," he added. "The Riyadh consultations have met our previous demands and it indeed reformed the presidency, tackled the economy and granted us real partnership in decision-making," he stated. "It confirmed the need for the South to decide its fate." "Peace is our only option and the only option of our brothers in the region," he continued. "If the Houthis decide to go back to their stalling and intransigence and reject peace, if they choose war, then the conflict will differ from its predecessors and the militias will pay a heavy price for such irrational actions," he warned.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3612821/head-yemen-reconciliation-commission-asharq-al-awsat-we-are-keen-peace