President of the Southern Transitional Council, Supreme Commander of the Southern Armed Forces, President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, today, Monday, held a video meeting with the British Ambassador to Yemen, Mr. Richard Oppenheim, and his deputy, Mr. Ishtiaq Ghafoor.

During the meeting, both sides discussed political and military developments, and ways to solve the difficult economic and humanitarian conditions that our country is going through, in which President Al-Zubaidi stressed that the treacherous terrorist attack carried out by the Houthi militia on Sunday at Al-Anad Air Base will prevent any chances of peace and calm from succeeding, calling on the United Kingdom and the international community to condemn this operation, and the real contribution in protecting the region from terrorism in all its forms.

President Al-Zubaidi referred to the efforts of the Southern Transitional Council to ease the burdens of the economic collapse on the citizens, in light of the unjustified absence of the government that the Council called on more than once to return back to the capital, Aden, stressing the need for all parties to feel responsibility towards the humanitarian and economic file as a priority that does not accept delay or procrastination.

President Al-Zubaidi reiterated his support for the efforts of the Arab coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to implement the provisions of the Riyadh Agreement, stressing the need to compel the other party to implement its responsibilities and obligations contained in the agreement, at the forefront of that economic and military aspect.

President Al-Zubaidi also affirmed the Council’s interest in developing bilateral relations between the south and the United Kingdom, and the depth of the historical relationship between the two peoples, praising the British interest in the crisis file and in supporting efforts for a solution, stressing the need for a comprehensive political process under the auspices of the United Nations that ensures the presence of the actors and national issues, foremost of which is the issue of the people of the south, in order to ensure the success of the efforts to establish lasting peace.

For his part, the British ambassador affirmed his country's position in support of the new UN envoy, pointing to the need for a comprehensive and serious political process, and the need for the government to return to Aden and carry out its responsibilities, and to implement the remaining provisions of the Riyadh Agreement, expressing regret and condemnation for attack on Al-Anad air base.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad al-Ghaithi, head of the General Department of Foreign Affairs, and Emad Mohammad Ahmad, deputy director of the office of the President of the Transitional Council.