US welcomes reorganisation of Yemen's military structure

The United States welcomed late on Thursday decrees issued by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi on reorganization of Yemen's military. "The decrees issued yesterday by President Hadi are another important step in Yemen's transition and respond to the Yemeni people's call for a unified, professional military that serves Yemen as a whole, rather than individuals," said State Department's acting deputy spokesperson Patrick Ventrell in a statement. "We commend President Hadi's determination and his continued commitment to implementing the transition initiative brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council. We urge the Yemeni Government to swiftly implement the decrees," he added. Ventral noted that "as Yemenis from all walks of life come together through the National Dialogue Conference to chart a new course for their country, we encourage the government to sustain its focus on strengthening civilian oversight of the military and security forces, an essential part of any transition to democracy". "The Yemeni people have illustrated that true progress can only be made when violence is cast aside in favor of negotiation, inclusion, and reconciliation. The United States will continue to stand with the Yemeni people as they strive to resolve differences through dialogue and work to establish more democratic, responsive, and accountable institutions", he concluded.