With Yemen's presidential elections nearing, the UN envoy to Yemen said that the UN "remains steadfast" in support at this "critical juncture," UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said here on Friday, Xinhua reported.
"At this critical juncture in Yemen's history, he added, the United Nations remains steadfast in our support to the Yemeni people," the spokesperson said at a daily press briefing.
Jamal Benomar, UN secretary-general's special adviser for Yemen, delivered a press statement in Sana'a, capital of Yemen, on Friday describing his seventh visit to the country this year.
"Preparations are underway for early presidential elections on Feb. 21," Haq said. "Serious commitment from all sides will be required to make these inroads to stability a success and the UN will continue its close engagement and monitor its progress."
Despite the many challenges that lie ahead, he said that the Nov. agreement, which aims to facilitate a peaceful shift of power in Yemen, opens the way for reform that can meet expectations of those calling for change.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-brokered agreement represents a notable step in the crisis that has gone on for 10 months in Yemen, since protesters began calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and have continued to clash with Saleh's supporters.
In the agreement, the president agreed to step down within 30 days and hand his power over to his deputy. The agreement also resulted in the naming of a new prime minister, Mohamed Basindwa, and newly scheduled presidential elections, now slated to take place on Feb. 21, 2012.
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