UN envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

:: United Nations envoy to Yemen met with senior Yemeni and Saudi officials in Riyadh to discuss his initiatives to end fighting in Yemen.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed stressing that “this is at heart a political conflict so it can only be solved with political negotiations.”

“We are currently exploring significant steps that each side can take to restore confidence and move towards a viable negotiated settlement,” he said at the end of the visit during which he met with Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and Foreign Minister Abdel Malek Al-Mikhlafi.

The UN envoy added that these steps include a renewed ceasefire, confidence-building measures to alleviate the humanitarian suffering and the return to the negotiation table towards a comprehensive peace agreement.

During the visit, the UN envoy also met with Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

“This large-scale suffering must end. I appeal to the parties to make the necessary concessions that can help paving the way for a long-lasting peace, and to the international community to ensure unity of purpose in supporting these much-needed initiatives,” he added.