Egypt is major player in Yemeni crisis, minister

Egypt plays a major role in the different issues in the Arab region to restore security and stability and to end the current conflicts witnessed in all over the region, including Yemeni crisis.

Yemen’s Minister of Tourism Mohamed Abdel Maguid Qabati underlined the importance of Egypt’s role to contain the Yemeni crisis during the current critical period, saying that Egypt is considered one of the major pillars on which his country depends to resolve the current crisis in Yemen.

Qabati revealed, during an interview with “Al-Bawaba” News, that the Yemeni government is keen to hold agreements with the Egyptian side to increase their cooperation in different fields. “Al-Bawaba” conducted the following interview with the Yemeni official:

What are objectives of your visit to Cairo?

The major goal is to increase cooperation between Egypt and Yemen in different fields. I, as a minister of Tourism and former Minister of Information, realize the importance of Egypt’s role to support Yemen not only on the political side but also in all other sides. I am here in Cairo to express my country’s keenness to support relation with Egypt during the current critical period witnessed in Yemen. During my visit, I met with officials and investors in the tourism and discussed the ways to increase our cooperation during the current period and the ways to activate this vital sector which is considered one of the major economic sectors to increase the national income in both countries.

Have you signed any protocols with Egyptian officials in this regard?

Yes, we have signed a number of protocols aiming to increase cooperation between Egypt and Yemen to activate the tourist sector. The Egyptian government provided training courses to the Yemeni citizens working in this vital sector during the current period. I also met with ministers of transportation and tourism and signed agreement to support all level of cooperation in the touristic side.

On the political side, why have Houthis refused compliance with Security Council resolutions and results of national dialogue?

We, as a legitimate government, are keen to restore security and stability in the country, as we bear our responsibility towards our people, while the other side, including Houthi militias and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, refused to honor their commitments. The Yemeni government enjoys international support, while the militants give priority to their personal interests at the expense of the national interests of the country. We held a national conference to draw the future of our country, while the militants have not committed to any of the agreements concluded there. The Houthi militias and their allies work to achieve the interests of Iran to increase the influence of the Persian state in the Arab region regardless of the interests of the Yemeni people. They also have not honored their commitments they took when they accepted the Gulf Initiative to resolve the Yemeni crisis to seize the power.

What are the countries that work to prolong the Yemeni crisis?

There are a number of regional powers that work seriously to prolong the Yemeni crisis, including Iran that works to support their Houthi allies to raise the sectarian tensions in the country and to use them in threatening the Saudi national security. Qatar also supports the insurgents through allowing arms and logistic support for the insurgents through Port of Hodeidah.

What is the Qatari role to fuel the Yemeni crisis?

Qatar was a member of Arab Coalition, while it withdrew as it has a major interest to prolong the crisis to serve the interests of Iran. The measures taken by the Arab countries exposed the Qatari role to support the anti-Arab powers.

How do you assess the Egyptian role to resolve the Yemeni crisis?

Egypt is considered one of the major pillars in the Arab world. The Egyptian government expressed full support for the Yemeni legitimate government and attempts to end the current crisis with the political means. The Yemeni crisis poses serious threats against Egypt’s national security due to its relation with The Strait of Bab el Mandab. Egypt played a major role to support the Arab Coalition and is inspired by the success it achieve during the latest period to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation among the Palestinian factions.

Will your government accept Iranian role to participate in the negotiations?

Iran is not a confident party, as it violated the UN Security Council resolutions related to the Yemeni crisis and resumed its support for the Houthi militias that committed a large number of violations on political and humanitarian side.