US ends support for operations in Yemen including “arms sales”

F.P. Report

WASHINGTON DC: United States ready to review designation of Cuba as a state sponsoring terrorism and has also announces to end all American support for offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant arms sales.

U.S State Department spokesperson Ned Price commented on the Biden administrations diplomacy strategy saying that, the point that diplomacy will be central not just because it is the right thing to do for the world, but because it’s in our own self-interest.

Spokesperson added that Biden also talked about how American values are a great source of strength and our abiding advantage. It will be those interests and those values that guide us as we pursue a foreign policy that delivers for the American people going forward, he said.

While commenting on the instable situation of Belarus, spokesperson added that the United States welcomes the opportunity to recognize a Day of Solidarity with the people of Belarus this Sunday, February 7th.

This coming week will mark six months of peaceful protest following the fraudulent election last August, he added.

Furthermore, Price added that, “We continue to be amazed by the exceptional strength, resilience, and courage of the Belarusian people. In the face of unyielding repression, they continue to demand freedom and democracy”.

Highlighting the Belarus crisis, spokesperson added that the world has been inspired by the people of Belarus, especially Belarusian women, peacefully demonstrating for the right to have a voice in Belarus’ future.

We support a peaceful and inclusive dialogue that bolsters an independent, sovereign Belarus with a government that preserves its people’s fundamental rights.

We will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus and those around the world who face tremendous brutality as they exercise their democratic freedoms, Ned Price added.

Additionally, the spokesperson also commented on ICC decision on jurisdiction saying that, a three-judge panel of the Pre-trial Chamber One of the ICC issued a decision affirming that the ICC may exercise territorial jurisdiction in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza; however, we have serious concerns about the ICC’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel.

Spokesperson underscored that, we fully support this outcome of the UN-facilitated process that will lead to a stable, secure Libya and elections in December of 2021. Regarding Iran, spokesperson added that our earliest approach will be to ensure that we are consulting and coordinating very closely with first and foremost our allies, but also our partners, and of course, with members of Congress.

Spokesperson Ned Price also underscored that, “We universally condemn acts of terrorism used to undermine freedom of opinion and expression anywhere in the world. We welcome all efforts to hold the planners and perpetrators of these heinous crimes accountable”.

He also added that, we share the goals of the ICC in promoting accountability for the worst crimes known to humanity.

Furthermore, spokesperson Ned Price commented on Houthi designation saying that, at the time that we would move expeditiously through that review given the humanitarian implications of that last-minute move.

Spokesperson quoted Secretary of State saying that, 80 percent of Yemen’s civilian population lives under Houthi control.

He also added that, we want to make sure that we are not doing anything to make life worse or even more miserable for the long-suffering people of Yemen, which by most accounts is home to the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe.

Regarding Congress spokesperson Ned Price added that, before we would be able to make any sort of decision to lift this, we would need to notify Congress as the first step, because we intend to get back to regular order in that regard.

Ned Price, also stated that, it is true that we are stepping up our diplomacy to end the war in Yemen, a war that has created both a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe.

Spokesperson referred to Biden’s decision saying that working closely with the UN envoy, Martin Griffiths, the President announce yesterday, by Special Envoy Tim Lenderking, our primary objective is to bring the parties together for a negotiated settlement that will end the war and the suffering of the Yemeni people.

We have no illusions about how challenging this will be, but it is our priority and we recognize that there is no military solution to the war in Yemen, the spokesperson added.

Additionally, the spokesperson also announced that U.S is ending all American support for offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant arms sales.

Importantly, this does not apply to offensive operations against either ISIS or AQAP, but it does include both materiel and restricting, as you alluded to, our intelligence sharing arrangement with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition in accordance with the President’s guidance.

Referring to the arms sale he added that, all arms sales to Saudi Arabia will return to standard procedures and orders, including with appropriate legal reviews at the State Department. We’ve re-established an interagency process for working through the details of these individual cases, he said.

Highlighting security concerns of Saudi Arabia, Price commented that we understand that Saudi Arabia faces genuine security threats from Yemen and from others in the region, and so as part of that interagency process, we’ll look for ways to improve support for Saudi Arabia’s stability, to defend its territory against threats.

While engaging with the media, spokesperson Ned Price commented on Cuban issues saying that “It will be at the core of our efforts through empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future. And second, we believe that Americans, and especially Cuban Americans, are the best ambassadors for freedom and prosperity in Cuba”.

We’re committed to making human rights a core pillar of our U.S. foreign policy, he said.

Highlighting human rights abuses, he added that despite, human rights defenders around the world continue to look to the United States to – for support against authoritarian regimes. This is one of those issues that we will continue to rally our allies and partners against, he said.

He also mentioned that incumbent administration will review the decisions made by previous administration including designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.