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Foreign Minister Westerwelle: Yemen must not descend into chaos
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution yesterday on the situation in Yemen. Foreign Minister Westerwelle issued the following statement on the subject today (22 October):
“This is the right time for the Security Council to send this clear message to those in positions of responsibility in Yemeni politics, telling them finally to put an end to the violence and resolve the political vacuum.
The country is increasingly at risk of descending into chaos. That doesn’t serve the interests of the people in Yemen, nor those of the international community.
The only way out of this situation is an orderly political transition on the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s initiative.
President Saleh must immediately step aside to enable a fresh start in Yemeni politics. Germany is ready to support the people in Yemen in this transition process.”
Supporters and opponents of President Saleh have for months been involved in violent clashes in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. Large numbers of people have been killed and many more injured.
The Gulf Cooperation Council has been actively engaged in searching for a resolution to the crisis since April. The initiative drawn up by the Gulf states aims for a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, providing for Saleh’s resignation, the formation of a transitional government, early presidential elections and the drafting of a new constitution, followed by parliamentary elections. To date, the President has repeatedly refused to put his name to the proposal.
Germany campaigned early on for the Security Council to address the situation in Yemen and co‑sponsored the resolution.
