UN chief pushes for peace in Yemen

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Iran-backed Houthis and the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to accept a road map for peace and quickly reach a comprehensive settlement to the Yemen conflict.
UN sponsored talks between Houthis and Hadi’s legitimate government have failed to achieve a breakthrough since starting in Kuwait on April 21.
UN special envoy Ould Cheikh Ahmed has repeatedly urged both sides to make concessions to end the conflict.
The peace road map proposed by him calls for the formation of a unity government and the withdrawal and disarmament of the rebels.
At a joint meeting of the negotiators, Ban added: “I ask both delegations to work seriously with my special envoy to agree to a road map of principles... and quickly reach a comprehensive agreement.” 
Ban also urged “the delegations to prevent any further deterioration of the situation, and to show the responsibility and flexibility required to arrive at a comprehensive agreement ending the conflict.”
The Yemeni government insists the rebels withdraw from all territory they have seized since 2014 and hand back control of state institutions ahead of any political settlement.
Visiting Kuwait on Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appealed to the warring parties to accept a roadmap for peace and quickly reach a comprehensive settlement to the 15-month-old conflict.
Ban said the international community wants the conflict to end and Yemen return to the transitional process before the war.
Ahead of the meeting, Ban held talks with Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, as well as the country’s prime minister and foreign minister.

Source : Arab News