The announcement made by Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, to start a truce and stop all forms of military operations in Yemen and on the Saudi-Yemeni borders is indeed great news for everyone in the Holy Month of Ramadan (“UAE hails Yemen ceasefire, armed operations halt,” April 3, Gulf Today”). In a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the UAE welcomed the announcement by the Yemeni government and the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen to accept the truce, stressing its support for all efforts made by the Special Envoy to enhance prospects for peace and stability in Yemen and the region.

The civil war in Yemen which started in September 2014 made people’s lives miserable. War only brings destruction, loss of lives and destabilises the country. War is not a solution to any conflict, but negotiations are the only way to bring about peace in the country and solve all the deadly conflicts between the stakeholders.

I hope the sense of peace will prevail in Yemen, all stakeholders will start honest peace negotiations for the sake of the poor people of Yemen, and the long civil war will come to an end.

Qasim Pasha,
By email