Houthis Ask Russia To Act As Mediator In Yemeni Conflict - Political Bureau

The delegation of the Yemeni Shia Houthi movement has asked Russia to act as a mediator in the settlement of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, member of the Houthi-led Political Bureau Abdul Malik Ajri told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2018) The delegation of the Yemeni Shia Houthi movement has asked Russia to act as a mediator in the settlement of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, member of the Houthi-led Political Bureau Abdul Malik Ajri told Sputnik on Friday.

On Thursday, the Houthi delegation headed by chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam arrived in Moscow and met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

"As part of our visit, we have asked Russia to play a greater role and boost its participation in the settlement of the Yemeni issue ... because its position is balanced and close to all the parties [to the conflict]. It [Russia] may act as a mediator in the Yemeni conflict as well as a UN aide," Ajri said.

He pointed out that the Houthis had seen Russia's desire and readiness to act as a mediator in the Yemeni crisis.

Ajri added that the delegation had also discussed several humanitarian and economic aspects of the situation in Yemen with Bogdanov.

The Houthi official said that the movement would welcome Russia as a venue for the possible future intra-Yemeni negotiations.

"We have no objections against Russia as a venue for consultations if Russia agrees on that and the United Nations asks. We will welcome such an initiative, we have no objections, conversely, it will be good for us, if Russia becomes a venue for the intra-Yemeni consultations," Ajri stressed.

According to the Houthi official, the United Nations is currently considering the venue for the future negotiations on Yemen with three countries on the list, namely Austria, Switzerland and Sweden.

Ajri added that UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths would soon make a visit to Russia but provided no further details on the issue.

Yemen has been gripped by the civil war with the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fighting the Houthi movement. The government is backed by the Saudi-led coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes that target the areas controlled by the Houthis since March 2015.