What's In Blue

Posted Tue 19 Apr 2011

Insights on Yemen

This afternoon (Tuesday,19 April) the Council will be briefed on Yemen by a senior official from the Department of Political Affairs’ Middle East and North Africa section.

It appears that Germany requested the briefing yesterday following the monthly briefing to Council members by B. Lynn Pascoe on emerging issues. It seems that no other Council members objected to the idea of a separate DPA briefing on Yemen. In recent weeks there has been a growing concern about the impact of the events in Yemen on international peace and security and this seems to be reflected in the increased urgency of discussions among Yemen’s regional neighbours. In recent months during the monthly DPA briefings on emerging issues and informal consultations on the Middle East several Council members have raised Bahrain, Syria and Yemen.

Although no Council decision is expected today it is possible that Council members may agree on elements to the press to emphasise that they are watching developments in Yemen closely. They may also wish to show support to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in its efforts to mediate between the government and the opposition. (This afternoon the GCC foreign ministers are meeting and may reach some decisions on Yemen.)

Council members appear to share an understanding that the GCC should lead on this issue for now and at this stage Yemen should not become an ongoing item for the Council.

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