GovWire

The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has welcomed the announcement made by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, of a ceasefire in Yemen.

All parties to the conflict have agreed to the measure which will start on 10 April, with peace talks, facilitated by the UN, due to begin a week later in Kuwait.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said:

I welcome the efforts made in recent weeks by the Saudi-led Coalition and the Houthis which have led to a decline in violence, and the Coalition announcement that major combat operations in Yemen are coming to an end.

Britain fully supports the UN announcement of a ceasefire from 10 April, followed by peace talks. A political solution remains the only way to permanently end the conflict, address humanitarian suffering and allow the legitimate government of Yemen to return.

All parties must continue on this path towards a political settlement, respect the commitments they have made, and come to the UN talks with a genuine determination to improve the lives of all Yemenis.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @PHammondMP

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice

• Follow the Foreign Office on Facebook and Google+

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