Jordan to host UN meeting on Yemen prisoner swap

Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallstrom (C-2nd L) and UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths (C- 2nd R) attend a press conference during the opening session of Yemen peace talks in Rimbo town of Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6, 2018. ( Atila Altuntaş – Anadolu Agency )

A spokesman for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that his country has agreed to a UN request to host a meeting between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels to discuss a prisoner exchange.

The spokesman stated: “We in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan stand with all our capabilities, alongside our brothers, in the efforts aimed at putting an end to this prolonged crisis, which must be reached through a political solution according to the approved guidelines.” He added: “The meeting’s date and logistics will be overseen by the office of the UN Secretary-General’s envoy to Yemen.”

A UN source told Agence France Presse (AFP) on condition of anonymity that “no date has been set for the mini-meeting, which will be attended by a special committee of the parties to the crisis, to follow up with the implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement”.

The United Nations made a breakthrough in December after eight days of talks in Sweden between representatives of the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. Among the details included in the breakthrough was the exchanging of prisoners detained by both sides.

READ: New clashes between Yemeni army and Houthis near Hudaydah

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