Brussels, 24/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, welcomed, on Wednesday 23 November, the signature of the agreement for political transition in Yemen, signed by President Saleh himself and key representatives of Yemen's ruling and opposition parties. According to the agreement, President Saleh must stand down within three months. Ashton also welcomed the “tireless efforts of all those who have worked for this outcome, in particular the Gulf Cooperation Council”.
Stating that the agreement is “a very important beginning”, which gives the Yemeni people the much-needed hope that their country can turn a page in its history and embrace a new future, she called on all political groups to help implement the agreement “in good faith”. The agreement, she stressed, “should become the foundation for a reconciliation process which reaches out to all Yemenis and enables a peaceful democratic transition to take place. It is time for all sections of Yemeni society to set aside their differences and make every effort to meet the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people”. The EU foreign policy chief added: “Nobody should now stand in the way of this unique opportunity to move forward”.
France and the United Kingdom also welcomed the agreement. Paris hopes that “this important step will allow violence to cease as well as a democratic transition to take place in line with the wishes of the Yemeni people”, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. British Foreign Minister William Hague called on supporters of Saleh and the opposition to seize this opportunity, and on the political leaders and Yemeni forces to engage in a peaceful and orderly political transition. (CG/transl.jl)