President Al-Zoubaidi: Restoring the State is our Sole Option and it's Irreversible

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zoubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), reaffirmed on Wednesday the steadfastness of the STC in its political position, which is to restore the state of the South with its full sovereignty, which is a firm position, and will never deviate or retreat from it.

This came in the framework of his speech at the expanded meeting organized by the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the STC for the local leadership executive body of the Council in the capital, Aden, its districts, and the STC’s coordination at the University of Aden and its colleges, where the President reviewed the latest political developments related to the political process and the road map submitted by the UN Special Envoy, Mr. Hans Grundberg, in addition to the recent developments related to the escalation of the Houthi militia in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.

In the context of his speech, during the meeting attended by members of the STC's Presidium, Mr. Fadhl Al-Gaadi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat, Major General Kamal Hamshari, office head of the President of the STC, and Mr. Moamen Al-Saqqaf, President Al-Zoubaidi pointed out that the cause of the people of the South has politically reached an advanced stage at the regional and international levels, and everyone has become fully convinced that no peace can be reached or last in this region of the world unless the cause of the South is fairly resolved in a solution that meets the aspirations of its people.

The President reiterated that the cause of the people of the South is the first and foremost pivotal issue in the upcoming political process and a major pillar for efforts to durably end the war and bring about peace in Yemen and the entire region, noting that it would not have reached this advanced stage at the regional and global decision-making table except by the grace of Allah, Almighty, and then by the firm steadfastness of our people and their armed forces on the ground.

The President added, saying: “Our political position is firm and we will never deviate from it, and there is no retreat from the goals of our people, and the option of restoring the state is our sole option, either victory or martyrdom.”

The President addressed the attendees by saying: “Today we are going through a pivotal stage that requires intensifying our efforts, properly assuming our responsibilities, and working in a team spirit among the masses and to reassure them that our rights, our land, and our dignity will be taken by force, and our state and its capital, Aden, will be restored sooner or later.”

Regarding the Houthi escalation and its threat to international maritime shipping lanes, President Al-Zoubaidi reiterated that our armed forces will be an active partner in any international effort or alliance to protect international shipping lanes. Indeed, they are the first concerned with protecting this paramount and important region of the world, which represents national security for the country, the entire region, and the whole world. Overall, it is a permanent and firm position that accepts no compromising or overshadowing.

In organizational topics, the President renewed his call to the local leadership of the STC to intensify efforts during the upcoming phase and to reach cohesiveness, coordinate, and integrate work with local authorities and community committees at the governorate or district level to ease any difficulties or challenges.

President Al-Zoubaidi highlighted the need to be open up to all the people of the South in spite of their various orientations and affiliations, to stay away from whatever might divide the fabric and disperse the unity of the South, to seek the help of all competencies and expertise, and to give chances for youth and all innovative people so that everyone should feel like a partner in restoring the capital, Aden, to its pioneering role in all fields. Wishing them all success in their upcoming national tasks.