Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and African Countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Yemeni Ambassador to Russia Ahmed Salem Al-Wahishi talked about bilateral cooperation and ending hostilities in this Middle Eastern country, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Monday, TASS reports.
"Current issues on the Russian-Yemeni bilateral agenda were discussed during the talks, particularly from the perspective of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries that is being celebrated in 2018," the ministry reported.
"In sharing its views on the developing military-political and humanitarian situation in Yemen, the Russian side restated the goal of an immediate end to the hostilities in the Republic of Yemen as a prerequisite necessary to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population, and step up inclusive national dialogue on ways for a post-crisis arrangement for the Yemeni state," the Foreign Ministry stressed.
Since August 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in a conflict between its authorities, which the global community recognizes as legitimate, and rebel groups, which were earlier backed by the forces loyal to ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The conflict reached its boiling point following the invasion by the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015 at the request Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
The situation escalated in late November 2017 when violent clashes broke out in Sana'a, prompted by the Houthi rebels’ (supporters of the Ansar Allah movement) attempts to seize a number of facilities that were controlled by Saleh’s supporters. On December 2, the former head of state declared a break in partner relations with them and on December 4 he was killed by the rebels.