Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the continued exchange of prisoners and abductees between the Yemeni parties in implementation of the plan agreed by the parties last March.
The exchange plan is a positive confidence-building step that will contribute to the success of efforts to renew the truce and enhance the chances of agreeing on a comprehensive political framework for the peaceful settlement of the Yemeni crisis, he said, expressing his hope that it will be followed up and reinforced with other steps in the near future.
The Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Gamal Rushdy, reported that Aboul Gheit praised the continuous Saudi efforts to create the atmosphere for a political settlement in Yemen, including what Riyadh did in order to help the Yemeni parties reach the latest agreement.
Aboul Gheit reiterated his aspiration that the suffering of all prisoners and abductees will end soon, and that the successful implementation of the agreement on the exchange of prisoners and abductees will be a prelude to improving humanitarian conditions in Yemen after the long suffering caused by the war to millions throughout the country.
Egypt also welcomed the start of a prisoner exchange between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, under the auspices of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the exchange of prisoners represents a positive and important step, which Egypt looks forward to building upon to renew the truce in Yemen and to advance the ongoing efforts to reach a political settlement that leads to a comprehensive and sustainable peace.
