HE Dr Nayef Falah M. Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the Yemeni consultations are launched at a time when the world is preoccupied with rapid international circumstances and changes, and difficult political, military and economic conditions. 


HE the Secretary General’s statements were made today (March 30, 2022) at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh, during his attendance of the launch of the Yemeni consultations, which is held from March 29, 2022, to April 7, 2022, under the patronage of the GCC.  

During the launch, HE the Secretary General delivered the following speech:

Praise Allah, and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.

Your Exellencies and Honourable Guests, 

Our Yemeni Brothers and Sisters, 

I begin with the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah,

In the name of the GCC, leaders and citizens, I am delighted to welcome you all in your home away from home, to attend the launch of the Yemeni consultations under the patronage of the GCC, praying to Allah the Almighty for the success of your consultations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

The GCC values your attendance here today and your participation confirms a number of constants in the midst of a world of variables, and these constants are:

1- The firm position of the GCC in supporting security and stability in Yemen and working to find a solution to the Yemeni crisis that ends the conflict and moves Yemen from a state of war and its repercussions to a state of peace and its challenges, in accordance with the three references represented in the GCC initiative and its Executive Mechanism, the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue Conference (NDC) and the Security Council resolution 2216.

2- The Riyadh Agreement constitutes a road map and a Yemeni national entitlement, and the completion of its provisions constitutes a Yemeni requirement.

3- Supporting the efforts of the international community and the efforts of international envoys to push for a peaceful solution and to find a strong ground for launching the political path among all Yemeni components.

4- Supporting the constitutional state institutions and ensuring their effectiveness, and ensuring that they carry out their duties and responsibilities.

5- It has been proven beyond any doubt that there is no solution but a peaceful solution, and that the war and its seven years of hardship, with all the meaning of the word in terms of hardship, cannot achieve the desired security and stability, and perhaps your consultations will establish a year in which people will be aided.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

The Yemeni consultations with its six pivots (the political pivot, the economic and development pivot, the relief and humanitarian pivot, the social pivot, and the media pivot), represent a platform for the people of Yemen to diagnose the reality and understand its difficulties, extrapolate the future and prepare for its challenges, and crystallise practical steps to steer Yemen from a state of war and its horrors to a state of peace and its hopes. A state to which the insight and efforts of the people of Yemen are dedicated to build. There is no solution except for what the people of Yemen decide, and there is no future except for what they agree upon. The solution is Yemeni and in the hands of the Yemenis and for the sake of Yemen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

The appreciated efforts of the international community through its envoys, who are here with us today, constitute international support to end the conflict in Yemen through Security Council resolutions and support everything that would achieve security and stability. This constitutes a historic opportunity that must be seized and built upon to preserve the Yemeni file as a priority that receives the attention and follow-up of the international community until the war ends and the battle of construction and reconstruction begins.

The Yemeni consultations are launched in light of the world’s preoccupation with rapid international circumstances and changes, and difficult political, military and economic conditions that require the people of Yemen to understand these conditions, study their impact and evaluate their repercussions on the whole world and Yemen in particular.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

With the launch of the Yemeni consultations today, the people of Yemen from the capital Sana’a to Hadhramaut, from Aden to Al Mahra, from Ma’rib to Mukalla, from Taiz to Al Bayda, from Al Hodeidah to Shabwa, and in every governorate, city and village, they are seeking a wished-for unity.

Let us remember the martyrs and their sacrifices. And let us remember the elderly, the widowed and the child who was denied education. Let us remember the youth, their dreams and their hopes, the elders, their experiences and their wisdom. Let us believe in the future of a country that has known as (Al Yaman Al Sa’eed - Happy Yemen) since the beginning of history. Let us stop at this name, which the history books mentioned that Yemen was called Happy Yemen because it was and still is the land of dreams, hopes, ambitions, poetry, literature, civilisation, heritage, glorious history and the great people. Yemen is the origin of the Arabs and the source of wisdom.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The success of the Yemeni consultations is not an option, but rather a duty that requires everyone to sense the national responsibility, to reject all causes of division and internal disparities, and to contribute seriously and effectively to achieving the required and urgent national consensus, to crystallise a clear map for the future to restore Yemen’s stability, development and prosperity for its people.

The path to security and peace in Yemen is not impossible despite the great challenges, and it is not far despite the long distances, and it is not an option despite the availability of many options. Rather, it is a single goal, in order for Yemen and its brotherly people to enjoy security and stability, which requires from the Yemeni people, and before others, to build their map for the future. A map that is Yemeni in the first place, crystallised by the people of Yemen and fortified by their wisdom. A map that places the interest of Yemen and its future, security and stability above all considerations, within priorities, a timetable and a follow-up mechanism, to be implemented with the determination of the people of Yemen and with the support of their brotherly countries and the international community.
 
The responsibility is great and historical before Allah the Almighty the Yemeni people, who look forward with open hearts with hope and optimism that these consultations will represent a real starting point for restoring the stability of the country, overcoming the repercussions of the war, and starting a new and promising phase of constructive national consensus. We are certain that the Yemeni people, with their wisdom and faith, will achieve the noble goals for which the Yemeni consultations are launched.

The great efforts exerted to create the appropriate atmosphere for launching these consultations and making them succeed is appreciated, and the quick response of the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen to the call for a cease-fire that we launched yesterday, which entered into force at 6 am today and in conjunction with the launch of the consultations, is an appreciable, thankful and supportive response to those efforts.

All thanks to those who contributed, participated, worked and organised this blessed meeting in its goals, and we welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan, wishing all the best for Yemen and its brotherly people.

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.