UPDATE - Gulf states call for de-escalation in Yemen, welcome Riyadh conference on southern issue

UPDATES WITH MORE GULF REACTIONS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - Gulf countries on Saturday welcomed efforts by Yemen’s internationally recognized government to pursue dialogue to address the crisis in the country’s south.

In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry welcomed “efforts undertaken by the legitimate Yemeni government to support the Yemeni dialogue process and address the Southern Issue,” praising a request by the president of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council to convene a conference in Saudi Arabia.

Qatar said the move aims to “bring the parties together for dialogue and to discuss fair solutions,” reflecting the Yemeni leadership’s “commitment to dialogue as a means of addressing national issues.”

The ministry also hailed Saudi Arabia for hosting the conference, describing it as part of the kingdom’s “continued support for efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the sisterly Republic of Yemen.”

It underscored “the importance of the constructive participation of all southern components in the forthcoming conference in Riyadh,” in a way that “prioritizes the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people.”

Qatar also stressed “the need to adhere to the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference as the consensual framework and comprehensive mechanism” for reaching an inclusive political solution that “preserves Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

It warned that “unilateral declarations and measures taken without consultation and consensus among Yemeni parties, and without engaging in serious and responsible dialogue, could lead to a slide toward chaos,” harming the interests of Yemenis and undermining prospects for a sustainable political settlement.

Qatar reaffirmed its “full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at advancing the political process,” and ending the Yemeni crisis “through dialogue and peaceful means,” in a way that serves the security and stability of Yemen and the region.

Kuwait welcomed the move by Yemen’s presidential council chief, Rasha al-Alimi, to hold a conference in Riyadh for intra-Yemeni dialogue and hailed Riyadh for hosting the meeting.

A Foreign Ministry statement said that it is closely monitoring current political and security developments in Yemen, warning of their repercussions on the country’s unity, security, and stability, and called on all Yemeni parties to pursue de-escalation and dialogue.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over rising tensions and escalation in Yemen and their impact on the country’s sovereignty and independence and on regional security and stability.

It called on the Yemeni people “to prioritize wisdom and reason and halt escalation.”

Yemen has seen an unprecedented escalation since Tuesday, after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces took control of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December. The two provinces account for nearly half of Yemen’s territory and share borders with Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, the STC head, Aidrous al-Zubaidi, announced a two-year “transitional phase” that would include dialogue with parties in northern Yemen and a “referendum” on the future of the south.

The move came amid a rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of “pushing STC forces to carry out military operations” along the kingdom’s southern border in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. The UAE denied the accusation.

The STC says successive Yemeni governments have marginalized southern regions politically and economically and calls for secession. Yemeni authorities reject the claim and reaffirm their commitment to the country’s unity.