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Russian diplomat, Saudi ambassador discuss situation in Yemen

The Russian side emphasized the necessity to stop all combat operations and settle Yemen’s domestic conflict exclusively by peaceful means through a borad national dialogue

MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Russia stands for immediate termination of hostilities in Yemen and settling the conflict through dialogue, Russian president’s envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday at a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador Abdulrahman bin Ibraheem Al-Rassi.

"The two diplomats exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East with a focus on the situation in Yemen. The Russian side emphasized the necessity to stop all combat operations and settle Yemen’s domestic conflict exclusively by peaceful means through a borad national dialogue," the Russian foreign ministry said on its official website.

Bogdanov and al-Rassi also reiterated mutual commitment to closer political cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia in international and regional affairs. "The sides expressed commitment to further development of cooperation in the trade-and-economic and other spheres," the ministry said.

The situation in Yemen aggravated at the beginning of last week. After Shia rebels (the Houthis) had established control over a larger part of the country Yemen’s President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi fled the country. A week ago, Saudi Arabia’s air force supported by aviation of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates launched an operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition.