Monday, 25 May 2015 13:30

The Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union on Sunday have agreed to resolve the Yemeni conflict based on UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

In a joint statement issued following the GCC- EU 24th meeting held Sunday in Doha under the chairmanship of GCC president, Qatar's Foreign Minister, Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah and EU's Foreign chief, Federica Mogherini, the ministers agreed on "the need to find a solution to the Yemeni conflict based on the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, and the GCC initiative as well as the results of the national dialogue conference".

UN resolution 2216 provides to impose sanctions including freezing the assets and travel ban on Houthis' leader, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi and Ahmad Ali Abdullah Saleh on charges of "undermining peace, security and stability" in Yemen.

The resolution also calls on neighbouring countries to inspect cargo ships bound to Yemen suspected of carrying weapons to rebels and demands that Houthis halt to the fighting and withdraw their forces from areas they control including the capital, Sanaa.

According to the statement, GCC-EU meeting addressed "common concerns and regional priorities mainly in Yemen, Iran, Libya, Syria, Iraq and the MidEast peace process."

The ministers also stressed on the importance of a common strategy between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council in the face of terrorist threats.

The ministers have expressed their determination to address common political, social, economic and security challenges.

The two sides also reviewed the progress in relations between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council and the results of the Joint Cooperation Committee held in Brussels on 4 May.

The next GCC-EU ministerial meeting is scheduled next year in Brussels.

Meanwhile, an UN official told AFP Sunday that peace talks on Yemen, which were scheduled in Geneva on 28 May under the auspices of the international organization have been postponed.

The official told AFP: "the meeting has indeed been postponed" without further details.