STATEMENT AFTER THE VOTE BY MALAYSIA
AT THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING
ON SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST (YEMEN)
NEW YORK, 14 APRIL 2015
Thank you Madam President,
My delegation takes the floor to explain its vote on Resolution 2216 on the situation in Yemen.
2. I take this opportunity to commend you Madam President in the manner which you have guided the Council towards the successful adoption of this resolution today. In this regard, Malaysia thanks the GCC for its engagement with the Council.
3. We find it most unfortunate that the deteriorating situation in Yemen has compelled us to adopt this resolution today. Today, the parties in Yemen seem further away from the promising steps they had taken towards peaceful transition.
4. Today, the conflicting parties are no longer engaging in dialogue and the situation has degenerated into an all-out war.
Madam President,
5. Malaysia wishes to emphasise that the success of Yemeni political transition hinges on the political will of the parties in Yemen themselves. However, without good faith, sincere commitment and political will from all sides, such negotiations are doomed to fail.
6. Nevertheless, for leading the negotiation process on behalf of the international community and the United Nations, Malaysia wishes to pay tribute to SASG Mr. Jamal Benomar, for his tireless efforts to salvage the dialogue between all parties.
7. We strongly condemn the spoilers of Yemen’s democratic transition for disregarding previous commitments and pursuing their struggle for power at the expense of unity and stability of the country. Their pursuit of narrow self-interest has in our view, betrayed the hopes and aspirations of the Yemeni people for a brighter future.
Madam President,
8. The brazen attack by the Houthi militias, in collaboration with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, on the presidential palace of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Aden last month was simply unacceptable.
9. In the face of such blatant disregard of various Security Council resolutions, the Council must discharge its duty and responsibility in calling on the parties to exercise restraint and return to the country’s roadmap for an inclusive democratic transition. For this and other reasons, Malaysia is supportive of Resolution 2216, including the provision for the expansion of targeted sanctions against Yemen’s peace spoilers.
10. At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen due to the escalation of the conflict. Even prior to the latest escalation, 16 million out of the 25 million Yemenis require humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. The already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen has now worsened as the population is facing severe food insecurity and lack of basic needs such as drinking water and health services.
Madam President,
11. Malaysia is deeply concerned by reports from humanitarian agencies such as UNICEF, OCHA and ICRC on the difficulties faced in their effort to provide emergency assistance and in delivering humanitarian aid including medical supplies to those in need.
12. We have seen reports of ICRC workers being shot and killed while trying to retrieve bodies of victims left lying in the streets from the military clashes.
13. UNICEF has also highlighted that children continue to be killed, injured, displaced and put at increasing risk of disease as the conflict continues in Yemen. Almost a quarter of those killed in the recent conflict are children. Schools and hospitals have also been attacked.
14. In view of the deteriorating situation on the ground, we urge all parties to the conflict to make every effort to protect civilians from violence, especially women and children, who are the most vulnerable in any armed conflict.
15. We call on all parties to adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Madam President,
16. Malaysia welcomes ongoing mediation efforts by some countries in trying to attain peaceful resolution to the conflict.
17. We reiterate the call in Resolution 2216 for all Yemeni parties to resume UN-brokered negotiations to complete the last several phases of Yemen’s democratic transition roadmap based on the GCC Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement.
18. We believe that this remains the only legitimate path towards a democratic, stable and inclusive Yemen, and we will continue to support Yemen towards this endeavour.
I thank you, Madam President.
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