The Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council, Governor of the capital, Aden, Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, received today, Wednesday, at the headquarters of the General Department of Foreign Affairs of the Council, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and his accompanying delegation.

 The meeting, which was attended by two members of the Presidium of the Transitional Council, Deputy Secretary-General Fadl Al-Jaadi, and the Dupety chairperson of the National Assembly, Lutfi Shatara, discussed developments on the internal level, as Lamlas affirmed the Southern Transitional Council's keenness to support and facilitate international efforts for the comprehensive political process to end the war and establish peace.

 Lamlas pointed out that any efforts to agree on renewing the armistice in accordance with the conditions of the Houthi militia that don't take into account the demands and aspirations of the people of the south represented by a two-state solution, will not achieve calm or prepare for a sustainable peace, reiterating the Southern Transitional Council's call for the need to represent the south with an independent delegation in the negotiations of the comprehensive political process, and to empower the people of the south manage the affairs of their governorates during negotiations until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached.

 Lamlas also stressed the Transitional Council's keenness to engage in partnership with the international community to protect civilians and international interests in the south, and normalize conditions in the capital, Aden, stressing the importance of lifting the current blockade on oil exports, and addressing the issue of the displaced persons and refugees that left heavy burdens on the shoulders of citizens, in service,  socially, politically, economically, and security in Aden and the southern governorates.

 In turn, Mr. Grundberg appreciated the support of the Southern Transitional Council and the Presidential Leadership Council for the efforts of the political process that it leads on behalf of the United Nations, praising the general mood he witnessed in the capital, Aden, and the desire to achieve peace.

 Mr. Grundberg stressed that there is no alternative to comprehensive negotiations that accommodate all parties and issues on the Yemeni arena, noting the importance and centrality of the southern issue in the political process.

The meeting was attended on behalf of the Southern Transitional Council by Brigadier General Kamal Hamshari, Director of the Office of the President of the Transitional Council, and Anis Al-Sharafi, Deputy Head of Foreign Affairs of the Council, and on behalf of the UN delegation, Mr. Moeen Shrim, Deputy UN Envoy to Yemen, Mr. Peter Rice, Advisor to the UN Envoy, and Mr. Tamim Al-Razi, Acting Director of the Office of the UN Envoy in the capital, Aden.