Sweden talks 'critical opportunity' for Yemen peace: UAE

Fifty wounded rebels left on a UN-chartered plane for Oman to be treated.

Proposed UN-led talks in Sweden mark a "critical opportunity" to bring peace to Yemen after four years of conflict, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday.
The comments from the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the pro-government coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, came as UN envoy Martin Griffiths is in the capital Sanaa seeking to push forward the planned talks.
"Evacuating wounded Houthi fighters from Sanaa once again demonstrates the Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition's support for peace," the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said in a tweet.

Evacuating wounded Houthi fighters from Sana once again demonstrates the Yemeni Government & the Arab Coalition's support for peace. We believe Sweden offers a critical opportunity to successfully engage in a political solution for Yemen.
- ?. ???? ????? (@AnwarGargash) December 4, 2018

A sustainable Yemeni led political solution offers the best chance to ending the current crisis. A stable state,important for the region, cannot coexist with unlawful militias. UNSCR 2216 offers a workable road map.
- ?. ???? ????? (@AnwarGargash) December 4, 2018

Fifty wounded rebels left on a UN-chartered plane Monday for Oman to be treated.
No date has yet been set for the talks, which are due to be held in Sweden, but hopes have been building that they could go ahead this week. 
"We believe Sweden offers a critical opportunity to successfully engage in a political solution for Yemen," Gargash said in his tweet. 
He added that "a sustainable Yemeni-led political solution offers the best chance of ending the current crisis." 
UN envoy Griffiths on Monday said on Twitter that he was "pleased to confirm" 50 injured were to be treated in Muscat and "urged all Yemenis to work together in pursuit of peace and stability". 
The evacuation marked a key step in kickstarting stalled negotiations. 
Saudi Arabia and its allies, who back Yemen's embattled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, had agreed the 50 wounded combatants, 50 escorts and a team of Yemeni and UN doctors could be flown out to Muscat - a condition set by the Houthis for negotiations. 
Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al Jarallah told reporters that a Houthi delegation was now set to leave Sanaa for Stockholm on Tuesday morning together with his country's ambassador to Yemen. 

• Oman