Senior Russian MP praises transfer of power in Yemen

The Yemeni president’s decision to transfer his powers to a new presidential council is a novel and bold political move, achieved thanks to the major role played by Saudi mediation, Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s (lower house) Committee for International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, told TASS on Thursday.

“The political transition envisaging the transfer of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s power to the newly-formed presidential leadership council with an inclusive lineup became possible in keeping with the agreements achieved within the framework of the intra-Yemeni dialogue under the aegis of the Gulf Cooperation Council with the crucial role of Riyadh,” he said. The council will include representatives from all Yemeni provinces, Slutsky explained.

“This is a novel, bold and requiring political will move,” Slutsky added. According to him, it is aimed at leading Yemen out of the crisis that has continued for the past several years. In comments on the role of Riyadh in the Yemeni settlement, the senior legislator pointed out that the authorities of the kingdom also intended to allocate sizable funds for the settlement of Yemen’s humanitarian problems.

“Riyadh’s active, asserting policy along the political, humanitarian and de-escalation tracks has already played a substantial role towards the stabilization of the situation not only in the Gulf, but in the Middle East region as a whole,” he added. According to Slutsky, Russia is ready to help in these efforts as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and part of multi-lateral formats of the Yemeni settlement.

Last night, Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi announced the transfer of power to a presidential council that will carry out political, military and security duties during a ‘transitional period’. The new body consists of a chair and seven deputies, assuming the duties of both the president and the vice president.

Armed confrontation between government forces and Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels has been going on in Yemen since August 2014, reaching the most active phase in March 2015 after the Saudi-led coalition invaded the country.

The ongoing conflict has triggered the world’s gravest humanitarian crisis, with more than 24 million Yemenis, or about 80% of the country’s population, being in need for humanitarian aid and the number of internally displaced persons exceeding three million, according to the UN data.