US President thanks Oman for truce in Yemen

Muscat: US President Joe Biden has expressed gratitude for the leading role played by Oman and Saudi Arabia towards helping broker a truce in neighbouring Yemen, which coincides with Ramadan.

Welcoming the temporary end to hostilities, Biden said, as reported by Oman News Agency that the truce “entails a halt to all military activities by any party inside Yemen and across its borders, the entry of fuel ships into Hodeidah port and the renewal of commercial flights to and from Sanaa to agreed destinations.”

He added, however, that these were “important steps, but they are not enough. The ceasefire must be adhered to,” saying it is “imperative” this dispute is ended after seven years of conflict.

“Negotiators must undertake the hard and necessary work to reach political compromises that can bring about an enduring future of peace for all the people of Yemen,” added President Biden.

Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy, said the aim of the truce was to give Yemenis a necessary rest from violence and alleviate human suffering, as well as to show there is hope for an end to the conflict, stressing that he would press for a permanent ceasefire.

The announcement of the truce was welcomed by Oman’s Foreign Ministry.

“The Foreign Ministry expresses the Sultanate of Oman’s welcome to the announcement by Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy to Yemen of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of a truce in the Republic of Yemen for a period of two months, and commends the positive discussions held by the UN envoy during his recent visits to Muscat,” said the ministry in a statement.

“The Sultanate of Oman affirms its continued efforts with the United Nations and the concerned parties with the aim of ending the war and reaching a comprehensive political settlement,” added the ministry.

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