The Yemeni government on Wednesday denied any form of dialogue with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and reiterated its welcome to the Saudi Foreign Ministry's call for dialogue.
Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi said, "The presence of state leaders in Jeddah comes in the context of continuous communication with the kingdom's leadership to learn about the recent insurgency in the interim capital Aden and some southern provinces, which culminated in the bombing of UAE jets on national army positions in Aden and Abyan."
A government source reported that the Yemeni vice president and prime minister had discussed two days ago with the Saudi side in Jeddah about the routes that dialogue with the "transitional", which the government has designated as rebels.
In a statement published by Saba news agency, Badi reiterated the government's welcome to the invitation for dialogue issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing that "there is no form of dialogue so far with the so-called Transitional Council."
Earlier, Reuters quoted a Yemeni official as saying that government officials on Wednesday began indirect talks with UAE-backed southern separatists in the Saudi city of Jeddah, with the aim of ending fighting in Aden and other southern provinces.
Badi reiterated the Yemeni government's assertion that the national principles and the integrity and unity of Yemeni territory are not the subject of bargaining or discussion.
For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadhrami discussed with Deputy Head of the European Union Mission to Yemen Ricardo Villa and Oman's Ambassador to Riyadh Dr. Ahmed Bin Hilal al-Busaidi bilateral relations, the peace process and developments on the national scene following the military rebellion of the Council. The southern transitional and the consequences of the UAE's blatant airstrikes on the national army.
Al-Hadrami reiterated the government's support for the efforts of the UN envoy to Yemen to implement the Stockholm agreement, noting that the implementation of the Hodeidah agreement and the withdrawal of Houthi rebel militias from the city and ports of Hodeida is key to any upcoming consultations.
The deputy foreign minister reiterated the government's welcome to invite brothers in Saudi Arabia for dialogue with the Transitional Council in accordance with the coalition statement issued on August 10, 2019. The right way to make any dialogue a success."
Al-Hadhrami referred to the violations carried out by STC against civilians in Aden and Abyan, pointing to the government's efforts to take all measures to end the armed rebellion.
For his part, the Deputy Head of the European Union Mission, the Union's keenness on the security, stability, unity and sovereignty of Yemen, according to Saba, the Union supported the legitimate government and the efforts of the UN envoy to implement the Agreement of Sweden and reach a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Yemeni crisis.
The Omani ambassador reiterated Oman's firm position and support for the legitimate government and its support for the Yemeni people and their efforts to stabilize the situation in Yemen.
