Settlement schemes imposed on Yemen from outside counterproductive - Lavrov

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Settlement schemes imposed on Yemen from outside will turn out not viable and counterproductive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Yemeni counterpart Abdel Malik al Mahlafi on Monday. "We believe that political settlement schemes in other formats imposed on Yemen from outside will prove not viable and counterproductive," Lavrov said. "Only the Yemenis themselves will be able to determine their country’s future. Russia maintains contact with all Yemenis factions and it is prepared to promote this by all means. We’ve been able to feel that this approach meets with understanding and support from the leadership of Yemen." Lavrov sees no alternative to the fastest termination of armed confrontation in Yemen and to the need for all parties to the conflict to give up "attempts at settling the accumulated problems from the position of strength." "We believe it is essential not only to continue, but also to step up international efforts, with the United Nations playing the central role, for creating conditions for the start of a stable intra-Yemeni dialog by all of the country’s political forces," he said. Simultaneously Russia will "continue the dialog with the Houthis and other Yemeni political groups, and with all countries concerned, including the Arab coalition, on whom the further march of events in that country depends, and encourage all those who may contribute to easing tensions and promoting the transition from a military scenario to a political dialog to do so as soon as possible," Lavrov stated. Read more