OIC concerned over Yemen situation

Jeddah, March 27 (IANS/WAM) The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, has said that the OIC is following closely and with great concern the latest developments in Yemen.

He expressed his support for the steps taken by the states supporting constitutional legitimacy in Yemen, which responded to the request of the Yemeni leadership to save the country from the chaos unleashed on it by the Houthi group and from its repercussions on the entire region.

Madani stressed the need to address the situation in a way that would preserve legitimacy and constitutional institutions in the country.

The secretary general indicated that the OIC had previously warned about the consequences of the Houthis' excesses plunging the country into civil war, imposing a fait accompli policy on factions in the Yemeni crisis by force, seeking help from external forces and undermining the constitutional and legitimate institutions.

"They also scuttled the outcomes of the national dialogue, the peace agreement and national partnership, and truncated the Gulf initiative on peaceful transfer of power, which was sponsored by the United Nations and supported by the OIC and all international and regional organizations, and had the participation of all Yemeni factions in order to preserve the unity of the Yemeni territory and people," he said in a statement on Thursday.

Madani reiterated the OIC's rejection of any interference in Yemeni affairs that could undermine the internationally recognised legitimacy as stipulated in the OIC Charter.

Madani renewed the OIC's constant position in support of the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Yemen.

He also expressed the hope that normalcy would return to Yemen as soon as possible and that the legitimate leadership there could discharge their constitutional functions, which would meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people for stability, prosperity and return of Yemen's leading role in the Islamic Ummah.

--IANS/WAM

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