Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

643. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on the ceasefire agreed in Yemen; the efforts made at European Union level to secure peace in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7087/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

After over a year of fighting, a UN-brokered cease-fire came into effect in Yemen on 10 April. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has urged all parties to work to ensure that the terms and conditions of the truce are fully respected. Importantly, these include commitments for the unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to all parts of Yemen. Though there have been some reports of isolated violations of this “cessation of hostilities”, by and large it seems to be holding. This cease-fire aims to create a conducive environment for peace talks scheduled to take place in Kuwait beginning on 18 April. These talks, to be held under the auspices of the UN, include military representatives from both the pro-Government and Houthi/anti-Government camps, who together form the De-escalation and Co-ordination Committee. The Committee’s discussions will focus on five areas: the withdrawal of militias and armed groups; the handover of heavy weapons to the State; interim security arrangements; the restoration of state institutions and the resumption of inclusive political dialogue; and the creation of a special committee for prisoners and detainees. The EU Council of Ministers adopted conclusions last November expressing deep concern at the situation. The conclusions emphasised that the solution to the Yemeni conflict must be a political one. The Council expressed particular concern at the impact of the fighting on the civilian population, as well as on civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure was heavily criticised and the EU appealed to all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.

On 5 April, the UN Special Envoy held talks in Brussels with HRVP Mogherini, where they discussed how to support the ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. The HRVP emphasised at a joint press conference that "the only sustainable solution to the conflict in Yemen is a political solution", and pledged both political and practical support. She also announced that the EU had mobilised technical support for the UN Special Envoy, with EU experts having conducted a capacity-building exercise with the De-escalation and Co-ordination Committee in advance of the peace talks.

I believe that the only solution to this conflict can be a political one. I hope that the cease-fire will hold and that these peace talks will be successful, so that the focus can turn to the country’s reconstruction, to the benefit of all Yemenis.