UN Security Council urges strict implementation of Yemeni political agreement

[News_Editor]

UN Security Council urges strict implementation of Yemeni political agreement

2011-11-29 18:41:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday underlined the importance of strictly implementing the new political agreement in Yemen, which agrees to a power transfer and elections to be held.

The UN Security Council stressed that in order to end unrest and restore stability in Yemen, the peace initiative by Yemen's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the implementation mechanism agreed to on Wednesday must be carried out "in a serious, transparent, and timely manner, and in a spirit of inclusion and reconciliation."

The timetable set out in the agreement includes the formation of a government of national consensus, presidential elections within 90 days, a national dialogue, a constitutional review and a program of reforms that start to tackle the profound humanitarian, economic and security challenges that Yemen faces.

Also under the accord, President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to hand over his powers to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi who is expected to take over as Acting President by December 23.

In the statement, read out by Ambassador José Filipe Moraes Cabral of Portugal, which holds the Security Council's presidency this month, the 15-member panel reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen's territorial integrity and unity, and urged all parties to reject violence, refrain from provocation and fully implement the Council's previous resolution on restoring peace in the impoverished country.

In addition, the Security Council emphasized that all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable. It also deplored acts of violence that occurred on Thursday, when five people were reportedly killed in the capital of Sana'a.

Yemeni parties were also urged to work with the UN, the international community and the GCC to achieve lasting peace, stability and reconciliation, as the Council stressed the need for increased and unimpeded humanitarian access.

After briefing the Council, UN Special Adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar said that the accord paves the way for a credible transition and provides a detailed roadmap for change through the broad participation of citizens.

"The implementation envisions meaningful participation across the full political spectrum, including the youth who paved the way for this change in the political order," Benomar said. "It is imperative that the new Government of National Unity engages with all constituencies including the youth, the Houthis, and the Hirak movement in the south."

Benomar also urged the international community to step up support for Yemen's recovery, as requested by both parties to the agreement. He called on all Yemeni parties to take responsibility and use the opportunity to foster positive change for the country, uphold human rights and desist from further violence.

Last week's political agreement followed months of deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Saleh and his regime, part of the so-called Arab Spring movement that has swept the Middle East and North Africa this year.

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