Delivered by: His Excellency Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative 

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

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Mr. President,

First, we would like to express our deep condolences to Mozambique and Malawi following the catastrophic hurricane that hit the two countries, and we reaffirm our solidarity with them during this difficult time.

I thank the Special Envoy to Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and Ms. Joyce Msuya for their briefings, and for the United Nations’ unwavering efforts towards achieving peace in Yemen. I would also like to thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of Albania, Ms. Albana Dautllari, for his statement as well as the efforts undertaken by the Chair of the 2140 Sanctions Committee. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in today’s meeting.

Mr. President,

Despite the fragile situation in Yemen, current conditions represent an improvement compared to one year ago. The intensity of confrontations has diminished, and the Yemeni government continues to implement several confidence-building measures, despite the ongoing violations by the Houthis. We welcome the convening of the seventh meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Detainees Exchange Agreement and the progress made regarding the Safer oil tanker.

In light of these recent developments in Yemen, I would like to make four points:

First, we should focus at this current juncture on intensifying efforts to achieve a permanent agreement that halts hostilities and relaunch comprehensive political negotiations between the Yemeni parties. The Houthis must heed the call for peace and genuinely respond to proposals aimed at ending the conflict. If they persist in their intransigence, we will hold them fully accountable for the continued plight of the Yemeni people.  

We commend the substantial efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in providing humanitarian, economic, and political support to the Yemeni people. We also reaffirm our support for the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council.

Second, the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Houthis against civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. We strongly condemn these violations, which extend from attacks on Yemeni ports to the use of blockades, shelling, mines, arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance. Of particular concern are the violations against women and children. The Houthis also persist in their indoctrination campaigns targeting children, including through summer camps and altering public school curricula to include extremist ideology. Furthermore, the Houthis continue to undermine Yemeni women’s rights and restrict their public role in society, which requires stronger calls and serious efforts to stop these unacceptable repressive practices.

Third, we appreciate all efforts to enforce the arms embargo imposed on the Houthis. We extend our gratitude to the US, British, and French navies for their efforts in intercepting and confiscating smuggled shipments destined for the Houthis, which threaten maritime navigation, security and stability of the region. We call for the strict compliance with the arms embargo and contribute constructively towards achieving a sustainable political settlement in Yemen.

Fourth, we emphasize the importance of continuing to support humanitarian response and economic recovery efforts in Yemen. We welcome the convening of the donors’ conference last month in Geneva. This year, the UAE will implement development, rehabilitation, and humanitarian projects valued at $325 million in the healthcare, renewable energy, and agricultural sectors. These projects include the construction of the Hassan Dam in Abyan Governorate, benefiting around 13,000 farmers, and a renewable energy project in Aden, generating 120 megawatts of energy. Additionally, the UAE deposited $300 million in the Central Bank of Yemen at the end of last year to support the stability of the Yemeni riyal.

In conclusion, we fully support efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Yemen, one that will end the ongoing conflict, address the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people, and promote security, stability, and prosperity in Yemen and throughout the entire region.

Thank you, Mr. President.