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Moscow says UN Security Council Yemen resolution doesn't envisage immediate ceasefire

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the proposed text should have been focused on the tasks put forward by the Yemeni crisis — immediate ceasefire and resumption of negotiations
Russian Foreign Ministry ITAR-TASS/Gennadiy Khamelyanin
Russian Foreign Ministry
© ITAR-TASS/Gennadiy Khamelyanin

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Russia did not support the UN Security Council resolution on Yemen because the document does not envisage immediate ceasefire and resumption of negotiations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Our position is based on the fact that the proposed text should have been focused on the tasks put forward by the Yemeni crisis — immediate ceasefire and resumption of negotiations in the framework of an inclusive political process under active UN coordination," the foreign ministry said.

Russia "actively worked on coordinating the draft resolution that met these objectives," the statement noted. "However, a number of important amendments proposed by us were not taken into account, in particular, demanding that all sides involved in the armed confrontation cease fire, including with the aim of preventing more civilian casualties; the importance of introducing obligatory and regular humanitarian pauses; importance of expanding arms embargo on all Yemeni sides of the armed conflict," the foreign ministry added.

"Moscow, just like many countries in the region, is convinced that there can be no military solution for Yemen," the ministry said. "The adopted resolution should not be used for further escalation of the confrontation. It is necessary to sustainably look for peaceful settlement, taking into account the interests of Yemenis. We hope that the UN will continue its mediatory efforts to solve the crisis in the country," the statement noted.

On April 14, the UN Security Council has adopted resolution 2216 that stipulates arms and military equipment embargo to Houthi rebels. The draft document was proposed by Jordan, US and UK. Fourteen UN Security Council member-countries supported the resolution, including China and Venezuela, while Russia abstained from voting.

Crisis in Yemen

Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation. The rebels later took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces.

Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions. The coalition was later joined by Bahrein, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan.

Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia. Houthi rebels are currently fighting pro-government forces over control of Yemen’s second-largest city of Aden. The coalition is currently considering launching a ground operation in Yemen to oust Houthis.