UAE 'part of Yemen coalition until war ends'

Dubai: The UAE will continue to be a partner of Saudi Arabia and a member of the coalition fighting to restore the rule of the government in Yemen until the coalition declares an end to the war, a top UAE official has said.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, took to Twitter on Thursday to elaborate on his address on the Yemen war on Wednesday evening, saying that the UAE will remain “a capable and honest ally alongside Riyadh in the military and political realm”.

“This is a partnership that was reinforced by the Yemen crisis and it is essential for the future,” he tweeted. “The Riyadh-Abu Dhabi axis will emerge out of this crisis with more strength and effectiveness, and the strategic requirements of the region make this imperative”.

He, however, put the onus on both sides of the Yemeni conflict to get out of the cycle of violence.

“Responsibility lies with the Yemenis - of all their components, to build bridges of communication and to reach an agreement on the state and its institutions. A spirit of national responsibility is needed for success,” he said, adding that no party should be marginalised.