Aden (South24) 

The United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg praised the recent Southern Dialogue in the capital city Aden.

In a briefing to the UN Security Council today he said, "the recent dialogue between a number of Southern political groups in Aden underscores the need for Yemenis to collectively discuss their future."

"Yemenis must agree on their future through a comprehensive political process with Yemeni leadership and international support," he added.

Grundberg said he received positive signals during his visit to Aden and Sanaa to make progress on the economic and humanitarian fronts and to start a political process.

Grundberg stressed that "the political process in Yemen will need to address complex, long-term issues," stressing the importance of the regional role in achieving this.

He warned of the continued absence of monetary and financial coordination between the parties and its impact on the economic conditions of the population across Yemen.

Grundberg said that the inability of the internationally recognized Yemeni government to re-export oil constrains its ability to fulfill its obligations to citizens.

Grundberg referred to the violations, threats and harassment suffered by media workers in Yemen, referring to the four journalists who were released by the Houthis as part of the prisoner exchange agreement.

The Swedish diplomat stressed the importance of the unity of the UN Security Council on Yemen, and support for peace efforts in the country, which has entered its 9th year of ongoing war since 2015.