Comment by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the situation in the Republic of Yemen
The internal political situation in Yemen continues to remain tense. Armed confrontations between government forces and militia of the Houthi tribal association, as well as between formations of radical Houthis and Islamists are ongoing in the north of the country. These fights resulted in many civilian victims and destructions, including of government buildings.
The situation in other regions of Yemen, in particular in southern provinces, remains turbulent. Militants from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have activated there. Extremist groupings have organised several terrorist attacks, including blowing up of power supply lines and oil pipeline on the Red Sea coast, lately. The sabotage war against energy sites complicates power and fuel supply to populated areas.
According to the incoming messages, on the 12 December an American air drone shot a missile to a wedding cortège in Al Bayda Province having mistakenly taken into for a caravan of militants, as a result of which fifteen civilians died. These events caused large-scale social protests in the country. On the 15 December, the parliament of Yemen adopted an advisory decision to ban the use of air drones in the territory of the country.
Being concerned about the development of events in Yemen, we still emphasize the importance to successfully complete the National Dialogue in this country. Such dialogue remains a real way of settling the problems faced by Yemen by Yemenis with energetic international support. We are convinced that we may reach consensus decisions on socially important issues like the future state administration of Yemen, reformation of its army and security forces, renewal and further development of national economics, only on the way to civil peace and consent.
For our part, we confirm our readiness to provide necessary assistance to Yemeni partners in the implementation of these priority tasks in the bilateral format, and within the framework of our co-presidency of the EU in the Work Group on the national dialogue of ten countries guaranteeing the implementation of interYemen agreements about peaceful transfer of power in the country.
17 December 2013
