FM: The Safer tanker issue could have been resolved years ago at a much lower cost

New York – Saba
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmed bin Mubarak, said the issue of the stranded Safer oil tanker “could have been resolved years ago and at a much lower cost had the Houthi militia not imposed obstacles and practiced political blackmail against the international community.”

The statements came during the minister’s participation in an event on the Safer tanker organized by the Asian Society in New York, in the presence and participation of a number of interested countries and organizations.

Minister bin Mubarak reviewed the efforts made by the Yemeni government over the past years in order to avoid the largest possible environmental disaster in the region and the Red Sea, and the facilities it provided over the past months to the companies and teams implementing the project. Bin Mubarak confirmed the success of the first phase of the Safer Tanker Rescue Project, represented by the process of transferring oil from the old tank to the new alternative tanker.

He expressed his high appreciation for the support of donor countries for the project and for the efforts made by the United Nations to lead this process, pointing out that the Yemeni government continues to work with international donors and the United Nations to ensure the implementation of the second phase of the plan in a way that ensures the safety and security of the marine environment of Yemen and the region in a sustainable manner.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, David Gressly, the Special Envoy of the United States of America to our country, Tim Lenderking, and the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation also spoke at the event.

They expressed their high appreciation for the Yemeni government for its important decisions and tangible support that had an impact, along with international efforts.