President Al-Zubaidi to CNN: We look forward to peer to peer dialogue between North and South under international sponsorship

The President of the Southern Transitional Council, President Aidaroos Qassem Al-Zubaidi, reiterated that there is no peace without a real solution to the cause of the people of the South that respects the aspirations of the people.

President Al-Zubaidi, in an exclusive interview with the American news network "CNN", broadcasted on Thursday, stressed the need for Southerners to have a real representation in the upcoming peace process sponsored by the United Nations.

In the interview, President Al-Zubaidi noted that the people of the South cannot coexist with groups governed by chaos, tribe, and political Islam, stressing that dealing with the Houthis is not an option.

President Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi indicated that the Houthi militia is seeking to achieve further expansion by trying to control the Yemeni governorate of Marib and control its resources.

About the Riyadh Agreement and the challenges facing it, President Al-Zubaidi described the agreement as very important, stressing that it has not died despite the challenges it faces.

President Al-Zubaidi expressed his aspiration for a peer to peer dialogue between the North and the South, under international sponsorship, to be followed by a transitional phase, as an appropriate way to address the unresolved issues, noting that otherwise the problem will remain.

President Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi praised the relationship of the Southern Transitional Council with the Coalition countries, stressing that the Council will not abandon its allies.

President Al-Zubaidi described the Council’s relationship with UAE as very strong, praising the assistance provided by the United Arab Emirates to the South in combating terrorism and eliminating it.

President Al-Zubaidi also confirmed that the battle of the Southern armed forces against terrorism and extremism, whose risks increased after the departure of the UAE forces, indicating that Iran's blatant interference in the affairs of the region is the reason for what is happening.

President Al-Zubaidi renewed his call for the international community to respect the rights, will, and aspirations of the Southern people, as a behavior that reflects its respect for democracy, human rights, and international law.

On the humanitarian situation, President Al-Zubaidi affirmed that there is an escalating humanitarian crisis, which requires concerted international efforts to overcome it, noting that the current international aid is insufficient to confront this crisis.