Press statement issued by the STC General Directorate of foreign Affairs

The STC General Directorate of Foreign Affairs, whilst renewing the Southern Transitional Council's support for the efforts of the UN's Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Hans Grundberg, stresses that the reference to the need for the southern voice to have a role in the peace process is an important step, however, it is not new in the international statements.

 The Southern Transitional Council continually made it clear, that the representation of the South in the political process needs an international will to ensure real and lasting peace, as this cannot be achieved unless words are translated into actions, embodied in the real involvement of the Southern Transitional Council as a representative of the aspirations of the Southern people in the peace process led by the United Nations.

 This also requires a realistic UN mandate and an appropriate political framework that reflects the reality of the parties on the ground and the national issues that are reflecting the real roots of the conflict, at the forefront of which is the issue of the Southern people. We believe that the envoy's review of past experiences will enable him to realize the urgent need for this, to ensure successful and sustainable steps.

 In this regard, we stress that ensuring a lasting peace cannot be achieved only through listening to the Southerners, but through their real participation unequivocally in all stages of the political process by placing the issue of the people of the South at the forefront of the political process's priorities.

 At the same time, we point out that the Riyadh Agreement still constitutes to be a real opportunity for a successful peace process led by the United Nations, if a joint negotiating delegation is formed as stipulated in the agreement.

 STC Foreign Affairs indicates that the other party has not fulfilled its obligations contained in the agreement and is not serious about the return of the power sharing government to the capital, Aden. The STC has called on the government to return several times but still seems a single-sided initiative.

 Therefore, we hold the other party in the agreement responsible for the economic collapse and the failure of the public services system, the interruption of payment of wages, the collapse of the health and education sectors, and the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis in our country.