Austria offers to host Yemen talks as Griffiths seeks to renew negotiations

The UN’s envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has resumed efforts to secure another round of consultations between warring parties in the Yemeni crisis in November, while the Austrian government has offered to be the host country.

After meeting with Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi in Muscat on Thursday and discussed latest Yemeni developments, Griffiths met with a Houthi delegation to discuss the opening of Sanaa’s airport and “other steps to build trust”.
 
Griffiths' renewed efforts were met with an offer from the Austrian government to host the next round of talks in Vienna.

The Muscat talks were preceded by meetings of the UN official in Riyadh with Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr.

The Yemeni government’s delegation warned Griffiths of any UN favoritism or appeasement of the Houthi militias, adding that the lack of seriousness by the militias to reach a peaceful, long-term solution was showcased when they failed to show up to the Geneva talks.

Ahmar had told Griffiths that the Houthis’ oppressive policy against citizens in areas they control, their assault on civilians, theft of resources and destabilizing regional and international security implies that they adhere to the option of war and violence.