The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged areas.
In statements over the telephone from Aden to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Qubati expressed hope that the next few hours will witness positive signs on the stability of the truce and the ceasefire in order to lift the siege of the city of Taz and deliver aid to the trapped population.
He stressed the Yemeni government’s keenness to accept any arrangement for a ceasefire, noting that there the previous seven ceasefires were used by the Houthis’ militia and forces loyal to former ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh to regroup in order to resume fighting.
He expressed his concerns over the collapse of the current ceasefire agreement in light of the continued breaches by Houthis.
The minister reiterated the legitimate government of Yemen’s commitment to protect the Yemeni people – as much as possible –, stop the bloodshed and achieve peace and harmony in accordance with the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outputs of the comprehensive national dialogue conference and the implementation of UN Security Council’s relevant resolutions.
If the current truce fails, the minister said that there is a serious trend in the Yemeni army and popular resistance to resolve the matters especially that the legitimate forces are only 35km from Sana’a, and then things will change dramatically in favour of the Yemeni forces.
The minister stressed that the Yemeni government has rebuilt the armed forces and enhanced their capabilities after years of sectarian policy implemented over the era of the ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On the government’s co-operation with the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Qubati said: “The envoy of the UN Secretary General has confused between his mission and the mission of his predecessor Jamal Benomar.”
Benomar’s mission was to find grounds to agree and play a role for the implementation of the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanisms, while Ould Sheikh should search for solutions to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 221 and not to look for new mechanisms to negotiate with the Houthis.
In this context, Qubati denied that the Yemeni government looks to replace him, urging him to abide by the assignment letter from the UN Secretary-General of as an Envoy to Yemen.  
The minister said the government is carrying out its duties from Aden and tours the liberated cities such as Hadhramaut, Marib and Socotra to check on people’s needs, alleviate their suffering and build the capacity of security forces across all liberated areas, noting that moving the Central Bank of Yemen to Aden has largely helped the government in carrying out its duties and commitments towards the Yemeni people. The government was shocked at the damage in the liberated cities at the hands of Houthi and Ali Abdullah Saleh forces, the misuse of state institutions, and destruction of roads and ports, Qabati added.
He said that the militias of Houthi and Saleh deliberately and systematically destroyed all the cities they passed by in terms of infrastructure, airports, roads and buildings, which obliged the government to try to bring the economy back to life or risk turning Yemen into safe haven for extremist groups as Saleh wanted.
Qubati added that the contribution of GCC states in the reconstruction and development of Yemen is an opportunity for GCC firms to invest in a market of 30mn people, noting that such a move would benefit Yemen as well as GCC economies.
He expressed confidence that the GCC states will realise the significance of promoting the capacities of the Yemeni state through construction and rebuilding what has been destroyed during the war.


Yemeni FM hails Qatar’s support
Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdul Malik al-Mekhlafi has praised Qatar’s efforts in support of his country, stressing that Qatar is keen to support the Yemeni people.
Talking to Al Sharq newspaper, the Yemeni deputy PM and foreign minister said Qatar is part of the Arab coalition and supports the sacrifices made by Yemeni people, adding that Qatar plays a great role in all political, diplomatic and relief aspects and has been backing the legitimate government of Yemen. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Qatar for all the support extended to the Yemeni people.
Al-Mekhlafi added that Qatari government has allocated a sum of money to support the Yemeni foreign ministry, which helped the country to keep its embassies open.
The Yemeni foreign minister pointed out that Qatar supported the Yemeni people through the provision of medical equipment and supplies and relief for refugees and displaced persons, as well as through its strong political position in support of the Yemeni people and the legitimate leadership of Yemen.
Al-Mekhlafi rejected a plan put forward by UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh, pointing out that Ould Cheikh’s plan was built on wrong considerations and did not comply with international references. It did not respond to the demands of the Yemeni people, and most importantly it did not address the real problem which is the militias and their weapons, the Yemeni deputy PM and Foreign Minister said, adding that it is, therefore, an incomplete plan in terms of security and military aspects.