EU salutes NDC progress, calling for addressing critical remaining issues

The European Union (EU) on Monday saluted the progress achieved to date by the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) and the Yemeni government's role in occurring such a challenging process. "The EU commends the role played by the transitional Government of Yemen, under the leadership of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, in ensuring that such a challenging process could take place," a statement issued by the EU Foreign Ministers after concluding a meeting in Luxembourg today. The EU urged the NDC delegates to use the recently opened 3rd plenary session to finalize their work. "Agreement on the outstanding issues must be followed by formal adoption and genuine implementation of the NDC's recommendations. The conclusion of the work of the NDC will mark an essential step in Yemen's transition process." It called on all parties to approach the challenges ahead and address the critical remaining issues, in particular regarding the future model of the State, in a spirit of pragmatism and compromise. It also "encourages the Yemeni authorities to swiftly implement the agreed confidence building measures on southern issues, as outlined in the 20 points recommended by the NDC's preparatory technical committee and the 11 points approved by the NDC, so as to build, among all Yemen's citizens, trust in the positive outcome of the transition process." It reiterated the importance of moving forward with determination in a peaceful, orderly and inclusive transition process that would allow for a constitutional referendum followed by general elections according to the GCC Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, reaffirming the EU's readiness to support inclusive, credible and transparent elections in the country. The EU urged the government to undertake urgently needed reforms, such as curtailing public sector corruption and improving the management of the public administration. Moreover, it reiterated its concern about acts aimed at undermining, obstructing or derailing the transition process, and about the fragile security situation as well as the increasing number of kidnappings in the country. "The EU strongly condemns the attack in Sana'a on 6 October during which a member of the German Embassy staff was killed," calling on the Yemeni authorities to do their utmost to investigate this and previous incidents and to improve the security in the whole of the country. "Security is an essential element in Yemen's successful transition," the EU Foreign Ministers' statement said, stressing that the EU would continue to support the government's efforts to improve the security situation. Finally, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to stand by the Yemeni authorities and people "to secure a better future for their country."