Head of Yemen's Presidential Council calls for 'sustainable peace' in UN address

ADEN, Yemen (AA) - The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council called for a sustainable peace in his country during his address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Rashid al-Alami hailed peace efforts by Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.

"With the resumption of the laudable efforts of the brothers in Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, hopes are renewed that the Houthis will submit to the popular, regional and international will...which will make our country more secure, stable and respected in its regional and international environment," he said.

"This is the logic of the legitimate government and the ultimate goal of any efforts for sustainable peace, which must mean a broad partnership without discrimination or exclusion and the foundation for a brighter future.”

Al-Alami called for "sustaining peace and not repeating rounds of war," which represents "the essence of the desired peace that guarantees the Yemenis their ability to build a state of institutions that protects rights and freedoms, equality among its citizens, and establishes good-neighborly relations and common interests with our brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries."

A Houthi delegation left the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday after five days of peace talks with Saudi officials.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sana’a.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat