EU welcomes ceasefire in northern Yemen

SANA'A, Feb.20 (Saba) - The European Union
(EU) has welcomed the halt of military operations in Saada, northern Yemen, and
announced
its support to the efforts aiming to establish a comprehensive genuine national
dialogue in Yemen.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness
Catherine Ashton, said in a statement that Saba got a copy of it that the EU is
ready
to continue its support to Yemen to face the security challenges and the other
efforts through an inclusive method in a firm coordination with Yemen's neighbors
and other
international partners.
The EU's representative renewed the EU's obligation to support a unified, stable,
democratic and prosperous Yemen.
Earlier in this month President Ali Abdullah Saleh decided to halt the military
operations in Saada after the rebels had announced their acceptance to the
government's six
conditions and the mechanism to implement them.
The ceasefire comes to prevent bloodshed and bring peace into the region and it is
conditional upon the commitment of the insurgents to implementing the conditions on
the
ground.
The six conditions were: - Al-Houthi commitment to ceasefire, eliminating landmines
and leaving positions and hideouts.
- Rebel withdrawal from all districts in Saada and stopping interference in the
local government's duties.- Returning looted Yemeni and Saudi military and public
equipment
and properties.- releasing Yemeni and Saudi captives.- Obeying the law and
constitution. - Pledging not to attack Saudi lands.
Saada has witnessed a sporadic six-year war between the government troops and
al-Houthi rebels since 2004.
The last round of the war was erupted in August 2009.
BA