The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, briefed the Security Council today on the political transition and the latest developments in Yemen.

20 June 2014- The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, briefed the Security Council today on the political transition and the latest developments in Yemen. Below is his statement after the briefing:

• I told the Security Council that its engagement on Yemen has been instrumental, and that the political transition is moving forward. I also noted that as Yemenis are weaving together the tapestry of their new country, some threads are unfortunately unravelling that could adversely affect Yemen’s transition.  
• I highlighted the situation in the South with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which still remains a very real and lethal threat. In this connection, I stressed that much, much more concerted and sustained international assistance is required.
• In April the Council had discussed the situation in the North, where the Houthis and other armed groups had been fighting. I updated the Council on recent events, in particular the clashes and subsequent ceasefires in Amran. In this context, I informed the Council about the need for a political track on the North that will sustain the current fragile ceasefires and that will develop a peace plan through direct negotiations on the basis of the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference that calls for “disarmament and recovery of State-owned heavy and medium weapons from all parties, groups and individuals that were plundered or seized nationwide, within a specific timeframe and simultaneously”.
• I drew the Council’s attention to the economic situation, noting a serious fiscal crisis that could affect the ability of the Government to finance the budget in the coming year. I noted that economic reform is inevitable and that deferring tough choices would not make things easier. I also informed the Council that only 35 per cent of the $7.9 billion pledged at the Riyadh donor conference in 2012 has been disbursed. 
• In the discussion, Members of the Council expressed concern that some spoilers continue to agitate and cause trouble in an attempt to distract from the important task of implementing the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and the remaining steps of the political transition.  
• I told the Council about my recent visit to GCC countries. I reiterated that the UN and the GCC will continue to work together in support of Yemen’s transition. 
• Finally, I told the Council that give credit to President Hadi and the Yemenis who are undertaking to build a new peaceful democratic country against all the odds, especially when one looks at the events unfolding in the region. I firmly believe the Yemeni people have chosen a path to peaceful change and are determined to see this through. And I underscored the need for continued and concerted support of the Security Council, the GCC and the wider international community for the political transition.