The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Adel al-Jubeir, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Secretary-General thanked Saudi Arabia for supporting the work of his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. He stressed that a negotiated political settlement is the only way to end the war and ensure that the interests of all the parties are met. 

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister agreed on the urgency to have the Yemeni peace talks focus on outcomes and agreements that are actionable on the ground.

On the issue of protecting children and civilians in the armed conflict in Yemen, the Secretary-General welcomed the Coalition’s readiness to take the necessary concrete measures to end and prevent violations against children and, to that end, work together with the United Nations in a constructive, forward-looking manner. He hoped that in advance of the open debate in the Security Council on 2 August, the Coalition would be able to provide information on the concrete actions they have taken.