EU COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON YEMEN On 21 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted the following Council Conclusions on Yemen: 1. The European Union salutes the progress accomplished to date by the National Dialogue Conference (NDC). It commends the role played by the transitional Government of Yemen, under the leadership of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, in ensuring that such a challenging process could take place. The EU now urges the Delegates to use the recently opened 3rd plenary session to finalise their work. Agreement on the outstanding issues must be followed by formal adoption and genuine implementation of the NDCs recommendations. The conclusion of the work of the NDC will mark an essential step in Yemens transition process. 2. In line with the Council conclusions of 24 June 2013, the EU reiterates the importance of moving forward with determination in a peaceful, orderly and inclusive transition process that will allow for a constitutional referendum followed by general elections according to the GCC Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism. It also reaffirms its readiness to support inclusive, credible and transparent elections in Yemen. The EU calls on all parties to approach the challenges ahead and address the critical remaining issues, in particular regarding the future model of the State, in a spirit of pragmatism and compromise. The EU also reiterates its concern about acts aimed at undermining, obstructing or derailing the transition process. 3. At the same time the EU encourages the Yemeni authorities to swiftly implement the agreed confidence building measures on southern issues, as outlined in the 20 points recommended by the NDCs preparatory technical committee and the 11 points approved by the NDC, so as to build, among all Yemens citizens, trust in the positive outcome of the transition process. 4. The EU further calls on the Government of Yemen to undertake urgently needed reforms, such as curtailing public sector corruption, improving the management of the public administration (in particular by removing ghost workers from the civil and security services), taking steps towards a gradual subsidy reform in a spirit of social cohesion, and implementing the Youth Employment Action Plan. The EU also calls on the Government of Yemen rapidly to conclude an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Without these steps economic recovery and improvement of Yemens dire humanitarian situation will not be possible. 5. The EU expresses its concern about the fragile security situation in Yemen and the increase in attacks. The EU strongly condemns the attack in Sanaa on 6 October during which a member of the German Embassy staff was killed. The EU calls on the Yemeni authorities to do their utmost to investigate this and previous incidents and to improve the security in Sanaa and in the whole of the country. The EU is also deeply concerned about the increasing number of kidnappings in Yemen, including to elicit ransom payments to strengthen terrorist groups. Security is an essential element in Yemens successful transition. 6. In this regard, the EU will continue to support the efforts of the Yemeni government to improve the security situation. The EU reaffirms its commitment to stand by the Yemeni authorities and people in their endeavour to secure a better future for their country.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 22:29:49 +0000
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