In a statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council after a meeting held in Luxembourg, “serious concern” was expressed over “all acts aimed at undermining, obstructing, or derailing the transition process and which take advantage of the transitional process for partisan ends, including boycotts of the NDC, and interference from inside or outside Yemen."
The statement also called on all parties to support Yemen’s “peaceful and orderly transition process, under the leadership of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.”
It also stated that the EU was specifically concerned over “increasing tensions in the south, which pose a significant threat to Yemen's transition, its stability, and integrity.”
At the same time, the EU called upon Yemeni authorities to implement confidence-building measures which have been ordered by President Hadi without further delay, including the release of southern political prisoners and an immediate reintegration of wrongfully-terminated southern military and civil service soldiers and officers.
The EU statement stressed the importance of respecting agreed-upon timelines, including the NDC’s end date, and later allowing for a constitutional referendum, which is to be followed by general elections.
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The full text of Foreign Affairs Council statement read as follows:
1. The European Union warmly welcomes the progress achieved so far by the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) and expresses its full support for its unhampered work. It reiterates the importance of respecting the agreed timelines for the conclusion of the NDC set out in the GCC initiative, to allow for a constitutional referendum followed by general elections. In order to do so, it calls on participants in the NDC to expedite procedural questions and address issues of substance as a matter of urgency. It welcomes the constitution of the Consensus Committee, which is expected to have an important role to bring the NDC to a successful and timely conclusion. Furthermore, it urges all Yemeni stakeholders to engage constructively in the NDC. The NDC is the only fully inclusive forum to adequately address the legitimate concerns of all strands of Yemeni society, including women and youth. The EU underlines the importance of communicating to the Yemeni general public on the progress of the NDC and expectations about outcomes.
2. In line with its conclusions of 19 November 2012, the EU reiterates its serious concern over all acts aimed at undermining, obstructing or derailing the transition process and which take advantage of the transitional process for partisan ends, including boycott of the NDC, interference from inside or outside Yemen, non-compliance with relevant Presidential decrees, and all acts of violence or instigation or provocation of violence. It therefore calls on all parties to support the peaceful and orderly transition process in Yemen, under the leadership of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.
3. The EU is specifically concerned about increasing tensions in the South, which pose a significant threat to Yemen’s transition, its stability and integrity. It therefore urges all relevant representatives of the South to contribute to a peaceful solution of the underlying conflict within the framework of the National Dialogue. In this regard, it recalls the need for increased efforts towards an atmosphere conducive to political compromise and urges all relevant actors to refrain from media campaigns instigating intolerance and political polarization, whether directed from outside or inside the country, including by Aden Live television channel. At the same time, the EU calls upon the Yemeni authorities to implement the confidence building measures commanded by President Hadi without further delay, including the release of political prisoners of the South and the immediate rehabilitation of Southern army and civil service officers in the South.
4. The EU welcomes the Presidential decrees restructuring the military and civilian security sector and looks forward to their full implementation. It urges the Yemeni authorities rapidly to adopt and implement appropriate legislative and institutional frame works on transitional justice, including the establishment of the National Commission of Inquiry and the National Human Rights Commission. It stresses the urgency for the government to progress on reforms in the political, economic and security sectors, and to tackle the humanitarian situation. The Government of Yemen must speed up the provision of basic infrastructure, services and employment opportunities to meet the needs of the Yemeni people.
5. The EU remains deeply concerned with the humanitarian situation in Yemen, which continues to worsen. An increasing proportion of the Yemeni population are food insecure or at risk of food insecurity. The high rate of child malnutrition is particularly troubling. In this context, the EU stresses the importance of improved humanitarian access.
6. The EU reaffirms its readiness to support inclusive, credible and transparent elections in Yemen. It also reaffirms its commitment to stand by the Yemeni authorities and people in their endeavour to create a better and sustainable future for all Yemenis.
