His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that the Cooperation Council countries are committed to continuing to support the brotherly Yemeni people in all fields, especially economic, developmental, and humanitarian, to enhance security and stability in brotherly Yemen and achieve prosperity and well-being for its dear people.
This came during the joint ministerial meeting between the foreign ministers of the GCC countries and the Republic of Yemen on Sunday (June 9, 2024), in the Qatari capital, Doha. The meeting was headed by His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council, in the presence of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC countries, and His Excellency Dr Shaya Mohsen Al Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs of the Republic of Yemen.
At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General extended his deepest thanks and appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, for his constant support and wise leadership during Qatar’s period as the rotating presidency of the Cooperation Council, which contributed to strengthening the bonds of Gulf cooperation and strengthening the effectiveness of the system in various fields, in order to achieve the objectives of the Council.
His Excellency also stated that holding the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Republic of Yemen comes as an extension of the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the Cooperation Council countries and His Excellency the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council regarding deepening the partnership between the two sides, enhancing aspects of cooperation, and coordinating consultations, as well as to review the progress achieved in all areas of cooperation between the two sides to enhance security and stability in brotherly Yemen and achieve prosperity and well-being for its dear people, as the GCC countries are considered among the largest international donors to Yemen.
"The GCC countries' donations to Yemen have exceeded more than USD 37 billion, including economic and development support since the year 2006, and relief and humanitarian aid since 2015, through the GCC Relief and Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office (GAFC) to the Republic of Yemen, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), and relief organisations in GCC countries," His Excellency explained.
Furthermore, His Excellency also indicated during his speech that in light of emergency developments witnessed by the situation in the Republic of Yemen, topped by regional tensions that cast a shadow on peace in Yemen, and continuing stagnation in results of international efforts aimed at reviving political track, Houthi militia continues to escalate in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sending new reinforcements to main fighting fronts inside Yemen while the legitimate government continues its efforts aimed at improving economic and living conditions in liberated governorates and confronting existing challenges in Yemen.
HE the Secretary General reiterated the Cooperation Council countries’ full support to the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by His Excellency Dr Rashad Mohammedd Al Alimi, and the entities supporting him to achieve security and stability in Yemen to reach a comprehensive political solution according to the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and Security Council Resolution 2216 to preserve brotherly Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence.
In this regard, His Excellency praised the continued and sincere efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman to support the United Nations' efforts, led by its special envoy to Yemen. The aim was to facilitate a roadmap agreement between the Yemeni parties engaged in UN-mediated consultations, with the goal of achieving lasting peace.
However, His Excellency expressed deep concern over the Houthi militia's insistence on a military solution and their attacks targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This is particularly troubling in light of the Houthis' pledges made to the UN Special Envoy in December 2023 to implement a ceasefire and take measures to improve humanitarian conditions and resume economic activities.
Furthermore, His Excellency praised the commitment to adhering to the UN truce declared in April 2022, despite Houthi militia continuing to expand its scope of military operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting commercial ships and sending military reinforcements to major internal fronts, most notably the southern Marib, western front of Taiz, Al Dhale' and Lahj.
Moreover, His Excellency stated that in the implementation of decisions made by the esteemed Supreme Council of the GCC regarding supporting the Republic of Yemen’s economic development aspects, the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council hosted the 21st meeting of the Joint Committee to determine the development needs of Yemen on January 22, 2024, with participation from council states, development funds affiliated with the Council, and regional funds, and programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, with the aim to coordinate support efforts regarding development projects submitted by Yemen, and discussed a list of urgent priority projects formed by a team studying urgent needs projects with participation from the United Nations Development Programme to ensure providing all support to Yemen.
In conclusion, His Excellency expressed his praise for the efforts made by Yemeni government aimed at alleviating the repercussions of difficult economic conditions, focusing on vital sectors directly related to population needs, most notably energy supply sector, preserving purchasing value of national currency by re-evaluating mechanisms of imposing the monetary policy by the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden, utilising generous support provided by the GCC countries, represented by support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthen government budget and meet urgent priority entitlements.
Additionally, HE the Secretary General thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing diesel fuel and increasing generating capacity to operate power plants, as well as the development projects provided by Qatar for the water sector and Kuwait for the construction and housing sector.