Pompeo Discusses Yemen, Venezuela With UN Chief

Pompeo Discusses Yemen, Venezuela With UN Chief

(L-R) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres shake hands during a brief photo opportunity at the United Nations headquarters, February 21, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.

The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo.

Pompeo and the UN chief “discussed the situation in Yemen, in particular, the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the importance of the parties to begin phase 1 of the redeployment from Hodeida,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

“They also discussed the situation in Venezuela and the region”, he added, without providing details.

Yemen’s government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a redeployment of forces from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, in line with a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden in December.

The port is the entry point for the bulk of humanitarian aid and supplies to Yemen, where millions are on the brink of famine.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday that he expected the pullback of forces to begin in the coming days, but by Thursday there had been no movement on the ground.

The United States is leading a push to recognise Guaido, backed by about 50 countries including Britain, France, Germany and several Latin American nations such as Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.

Fears are growing of a violent confrontation over Guaido’s bid to bring US humanitarian aid into the country from Colombia, in defiance of the government which accuses Washington of using aid for regime change.

The United Nations has said that aid should not be politicised.