Yemen awaits talks invitation

Yemen’s ambassador to the UN said yesterday that his government had not yet been invited to peace talks planned for next month, but that it was open to attending despite low prospects for success.

“We are waiting for the invitation,” Yemen’s envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Majawar, told reporters.

The UN’s peace envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council earlier this month that he wants to host warring parties in the Swiss city on September 6.

A Yemeni government source, who requested anonymity, said that on August 3 that it would attend. Majawar underscored that in the two weeks since Griffiths announced the talks, the UN has not shared any details, including on the crucial issue of whether the government and Iran-backed Al Houthis would be asked to meet face-to-face.