The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Khaled Mahfoudh Abdullah Bahah, Vice President and Prime Minister of Yemen in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

He reiterated his deep concern regarding the continuing conflict in Yemen, the mounting civilian causalities and the alarming humanitarian crisis, despite repeated calls from the international community for an end to the hostilities.

The Secretary-General and the Vice President exchanged views on how to renew the cessation of hostilities and to prepare for a new round of political negotiations. The Secretary-General also stressed the need for all sides to implement the confidence-building measures discussed in Switzerland last month, including the release of prisoners, and full and unhindered humanitarian access, including to Taiz. In this regard, the Secretary-General noted the release of the Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, and four political and media activists on 16 January as well as two Saudi nationals on 14 January, as an important step forward.

The Secretary-General urged the Government of Yemen, and all Yemeni parties and the States in the region to commit to the comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in order to enable the rapid resumption of peace talks facilitated by his Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. He also welcomed the Government’s recent decision to allow the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Yemen stay in the country.