A UN mandate that supports a peace deal on a troop withdrawal from Yemen’s key port city of Hodeidah was extended by six months on Monday.
Yemen’s warring sides agreed to a ceasefire and troop withdrawal from Hodeidah during talks in Stockholm, Sweden, last December, which marked the first major breakthrough in peace efforts since the civil war began in 2015.
Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, is the point of entry for most of the country's commercial goods and aid supplies.
A British drafted resolution asked the UN Security Council to extend its mandate until 15 January 2020 “to support the parties in implementing their commitments in accordance with the Hodeidah agreement and to lead and support the functioning of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC).”
Danish Lt Gen Michael Lollesgaard, who leads the UN observer team in Hodeidah, heads the RCC.
The mandate is due to expire in the coming days.
The 15-member Security Council approval is seen as another attempt to ensure Yemen's warring parties stick to plans agreed to in Sweden to de-escalate the country's war.
Earlier this year, the UN approved 75 observers to be deployed in the port city to oversee the withdrawal of forces. The operation is known as the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA).
Monday's extension is an attempt to "work with the parties so that the security of the city of Hodeidah and the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa is assured by local security forces in accordance with Yemeni law," said the resolution that was given to The National by a UN official.
Since its implementation last December, the deal has been on shaky ground with the government accusing the Houthi rebels of trying to undermine the agreement.
The extension also called on the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report to the Security Council on a monthly basis on progress regarding the implementation of this resolution.
Mr Guterres must report on any obstructions to the “effective operation of UNMHA caused by any party; and on resolution 2451 (2018), including on any non-compliance by any party,” said the resolution.
The announcement comes as UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths met Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Jeddah on Monday.
Mr Griffiths said he held “productive” discussions with Prince Khalid on ways to keep Yemen out of “ongoing regional tensions and to ensure progress is made in implementing the Stockholm deal with the support of the Kingdom.”
The UN official is due to meet with President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi for the first time since the Yemeni leader accused him of siding with the Houthi rebels.
"The purpose of the meetings will be to talk about the Stockholm agreement, on the withdrawal of troops from Hodeidah," a UN official told The National.
After his visit to Saudi Arabia Mr Griffiths is expected to meet with Houthi officials in Sanaa on Wednesday.
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
Sunday's Super Four matches
Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan
Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
