The head of the Houthi delegation, Muhammad Abdul Salam, expressed hope that the first path to peace would end in Riyadh discussions on all humanitarian, military and political files, making concrete progress towards achieving peace. and stability in Yemen, neighboring countries and the region.

He confirmed in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation’s visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh comes on the back of previous discussions with Saudi delegations in Muscat and Sana’a. He added, “The visit comes in the context of previous discussions with the Saudi delegation in Muscat and Sana’a in previous periods and now in Riyadh.”

Abdul Salam continued, “We hope that these negotiations will result in concrete progress in all humanitarian, military and political files, in addressing the consequences of the war, and in achieving peace and stability in Yemen, its neighbors and the neighboring countries. region.”

A Houthi delegation arrived in Riyadh on Thursday evening, along with an Omani delegation, as part of efforts to end the war and bring peace to Yemen after nearly nine years of war.

Asked if he was optimistic about the results of these talks, Abdel Salam replied, “We are always optimistic about the good, and peace is a basic demand for us and our first desire that we work on.”

For its part, the Yemeni government has welcomed Saudi-Omani efforts, and UN and international efforts aimed at pushing the Houthi militias to seriously address calls for peace and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people.

In a statement on Friday, the government continued to insist on an open approach to all initiatives aimed at bringing about a just and comprehensive peace, according to three conditions, to end the coup, the restructuring. Government Institutions, and Security, Stability and Development in Yemen.

On Thursday evening, Saudi Arabia announced that it had invited a delegation from Sanaa to visit. This is to complement meetings and discussions based on the Saudi initiative announced in March 2021.

The call comes as a continuation of efforts by Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman to reach a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen, a sustainable political solution acceptable to all Yemeni parties, and a series of meetings and discussions. In the period from April 8 to 13, a Saudi delegation led by the Kingdom’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, is in Sana’a with the participation of the Sultanate of Oman.

Ambassador Al Jaber earlier visited Sana’a aimed at consolidating the cease-fire and ceasefire, supporting the prisoner exchange process and discussing ways of dialogue between the Yemeni elements to achieve a comprehensive and stable political solution in Yemen.

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia, the government and the people, have stood by the Yemeni brothers in decades of dark political and economic situations and crises, stressing the continuation of the brotherhood’s efforts since 2011 to achieve the aspirations of the Yemeni people. Security, stability and economic prosperity.

For his part, US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan on Friday welcomed the visit of the Houthi group’s first official delegation to Saudi Arabia. In a statement to the White House, Sullivan said, “We commend the leadership of Saudi Arabia for this ongoing effort, and we thank the Sultanate of Oman for its important role,” noting that the arrival of the Houthi delegation was imminent. A continuous 18-month truce, which began after a United Nations-brokered ceasefire, will come into effect for the first time on April 2, 2022.

The Arab World News Agency quoted a White House statement calling on Washington to “consolidate and extend the ceasefire that has brought some peace to the people of Yemen and finally bring an end to this war”.