Communications Unit at the Office of Mr.

Jamal Benomar Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on emen Statement on the UNSC Briefin! November 2013- New York 27 The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary- e!eral o! Yeme! "amal #e!omar brie$ed the Sec%rity &o%!cil today o! the latest developme!ts i! Yeme! a!d the remai!i!' challe!'es to co!cl%de the Natio!al (ialo'%e &o!$ere!ce) #elow is his stateme!t a$ter *the brie$i!' " am pleased to see once a!ain the Security Council spea#in! $ith one voice in support of the peaceful transition in emen and $arnin! spoilers and o%structionists that action $ill %e ta#en if they persist. " &uote' (the Security Council reiterated their concern over continuin! reports of interference %y those intent on disruptin!) delayin! or derailin! the transition process and underminin! the emeni Government)* and they (condemned any such attempts) $hether %y mem%ers of the former re!ime or political opportunists.* " also note that the Council (emphasi+ed that the conclusion of the political transition should %e %ased on the completion of the steps contained in the GCC "nitiative and its "mplementation Mechanism)* not on an indicative timeline. " am than#ful to the Council for $elcomin! the !ood offices of the SecretaryGeneral and) in particular) reaffirmin! their support for me as the Special Adviser. " have ,ust returned from my t$enty-fifth mission in emen. Overall) continues to ma#e remar#a%le pro!ress despite evident challen!es. emen

-he comprehensive National .ialo!ue has resulted in far-reachin! decisions and has laid out a %lueprint for !enuine democratic transformation. -his is a remar#a%le achievement. emen is tryin! to achieve a deep) democratic transformation in months / a process that too# other countries years. Accomplishin! the su%stantive tas#s outlined in the -ransition A!reement / the GCC "nitiative and "mplementation Mechanism / o%viously ta#e precedence over ri!id adherence to an indicative timeline.

A persistent source of insta%ility is the role that o%structionists continue to play in emeni politics. -his threatens the political transition. Most National .ialo!ue dele!ates %elieve that o%structionists cannot %oth en,oy immunity and continue to undermine the transition. "t %ears recallin! that international la$ prohi%its amnesty or immunity for !enocide) $ar crimes) crimes a!ainst humanity) crimes involvin! se0ual violence and !ross violations of human ri!hts. Some elements of the former re!ime %elieve they can turn %ac# the cloc#. A $ellfunded) relentless and malicious media campai!n has %een launched) attac#in! 1resident 2adi that see#s to discredit him and the transition %y misleadin! the pu%lic that his term ends in 3e%ruary 4567 and to reverse the transition. -he -ransition A!reement ma#es clear that the 1resident remains in office until the inau!uration of the ne$ president. -he presidential term limit is determined %y the accomplishment of the tas#s outlined in the -ransition A!reement. "n other $ords) the term limit is not numerical %ut tas# oriented. " told the Security Council that $e are only no$ %e!innin! to uncover the nature and e0tent of the discrimination a!ainst Southerners) the scope of the systematic pilla!e of Southern resources) and the conse&uential humiliation felt %y Southerners at the hands of those directin! the previous re!ime. -he launch of a trust fund $ith a 8atari contri%ution of 9:;5 million is a timely step in that direction. 2ope other confidence %uildin! measures follo$. -he constructive support of the international community) includin! this Council) the GCC and others $or#in! to!ether) has %een so far vital in helpin! to advance this peaceful transition. emen is no$ approachin! a crossroads) and the ris# of %ac#slidin! is hi!h. 3inally) " informed the Council of 1resident 2adi<s tireless efforts and coura!e in leadin! this transition) $hich deserve its full support.