STC's Secretary-General Discusses with UN Envoy Developments of the Political Process and Endeavours to End the War

The Secretary-General of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the governor of the capital, Aden, Mr. Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, received on Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Foreign Affairs (GDFA) the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and his accompanying team.

The meeting, which was attended by two members of the STC's Presidium, Mr. Fadhl Al-Gaadi, deputy secretary general, and Mr. Lotfi Shatara, deputy chairman of the National Assembly, discussed developments on the internal level, as Mr. Lamlas affirmed the STC's keenness to boost and facilitate international endeavors in the comprehensive political process to end the war and establish a lasting peace.

Similarly, Mr. Lamlas pointed out that any endeavours to agree on renewing the UN-med-truce as per the terms of non-compliancy Houthi militia and without taking into account the aspirations of the people of the South crystallized by a two-state solution, will not contribute to bringing stability or a sustainable peace, reiterating the STC's call to represent the South with an independent delegation in the negotiations of the comprehensive political process and to empower the people of the South to manage the affairs of their governorates until reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.

Likewise, Mr. Lamlas asserted the keenness of the STC to engage in partnership with the international community to protect civilians and international interests in the South and normalize conditions in the capital, Aden, stressing the importance of lifting the current blockade on exporting oil and addressing the issues of displacement and refugees that left heavy burdens on the shoulders of citizens in all social, political, economic, security, and service aspects in Aden and the governorates of the South.

In turn, Mr. Grundberg appreciated the support of the STC and the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) for the UN-led endeavours to reach the political process, lauding the positive public mood he perceived in the capital, Aden, to achieve peace.

Mr. Grundberg affirmed that there is no alternative to comprehensive negotiations that accommodate all parties and issues in the Yemeni arena, noting the importance and centrality of the cause of the South in the political process.

The meeting was attended by Major General Kamal Hamshari, Office Director of the President of the STC, Mr. Anis Al-Sharafi, the deputy director of the General Directorate of Foreign Affairs (GDFA), and from the UN Office team: Mr. Muin Shreim, Deputy Head of Mission at the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen (OSESGY), Mr. Peter Rice, Advisor of the UN Special Envoy, and Mr. Tamim Al-Razi, Acting Office Head of the UN Special Envoy in the capital, Aden.