Secretary Antony J. Blinken Before His Meeting with Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad al-Alimi

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good morning, colleagues, and thank you all for joining us this morning.  And thank you, even more important than that, for your shared commitment to advancing peace.  Under your leadership in Yemen, 18 months of calm have now improved lives for millions of Yemenis – and more important, not just improved lives but saved lives.

Inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni talks mediated by the UN I think are now essential to reaching a lasting peace.  And I’ve just come from a meeting between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and what I heard was a strong unanimity of views about the importance of this moment, the opportunity that now lies before the Yemeni people to finally move toward a durable peace.  And I know all of us will be working in a positive way to support those efforts.

In our judgment, the path forward is clear:  Only negotiations, not hostilities, will bring security and prosperity to the people of Yemen.  We support Mr. President’s PLC and we support direct talks among all Yemenis to reach a durable resolution.  And we will do and continue to do whatever we can to support the vitally important efforts that you are all engaged in.  I very much appreciate the presence, Mr. President, of you, of the vice president.  Mr. Vice President, welcome.  Good to have you with us today and look forward to a good conversation.

Mr. President.