President Al-Zubaidi: "Any Negotiations Conducted Outside the Scope of the Joint Negotiating Team Will Not Be Accepted."

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), reiterated the urgent need to activate the joint negotiation team of the PLC and empower it to carry out its tasks, underscoring that this team should serve as the sole representative of all parties within the scope of the STC in any upcoming negotiations to end the conflict in Yemen.

This came during his virtual meeting on Sunday evening with H.E. Abda Sharif, the UK Ambassador to Yemen. The President stated, "We have a joint negotiating team that represents the various forces within the PLC. This team must be activated and empowered to carry out its tasks, and any negotiations conducted outside its scope will not be accepted or endorsed by the parties affiliated with the PLC."

In the same context, the meeting discussed the latest developments related to the economic situation in the country and its repercussions on humanitarian conditions, as well as regional and international efforts to mitigate the impact of these severe consequences on citizens in all governorates.

The meeting also reviewed the latest political developments in light of the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen and regional and international partners to end the conflict in the country. In this regard, President Al-Zubaidi pointed out that the Houthi militias continue their intransigence and rejection of all calls for dialogue, stressing that their ongoing escalation in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and on the frontlines in a number of governorates proves their lack of seriousness in dealing with all calls for peace.

Separately, the meeting touched on the escalating campaigns of repression and violations by the Houthi militias targeting UN and international organization staff in their areas under their control. In this regard, President Al-Zubaidi reiterated his condemnation of the crimes committed by the militias against humanitarian and relief members, stressing the need for a firm international stance to compel the militias to release abducted staff members of UN-affiliated organizations and international and local humanitarian organizations.

For her part, the British Ambassador reaffirmed her country's support for all efforts aimed at ending the conflict and bringing about peace in the country, noting the importance of a comprehensive political process with zero preconditions.