The intra-Yemeni consultations kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The consultations, the largest since the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in 2014, are being sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). They are bringing together Yemenis from across the country to discuss peace and are set to conclude on April 7.
Present at the opening were GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg, United States envoy Tim Lenderking and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Ibrahim Taha.
The Houthis have not attended the talks in spite being invited. Al-Hajraf renewed his invitation on Tuesday.
Addressing the gatherers, Al-Hajraf said the Riyadh Agreement represents a roadmap for Yemen. "The peaceful solution is the only way to resolve the crisis," he added.
The consultations are a platform to "diagnose the situation in the country so that it can move from war to peace," he went on to say.
"The Yemeni solution lies in Yemeni hands," he stressed.
"The success of the consultations is not a choice, but a reality that must materialize," urged Al-Hajraf, while thanking the Saudi-led Arab coalition for declaring a ceasefire, which started Wednesday, to ensure the success of the Riyadh talks.
Taha echoed the praise of the coalition, while hailing the efforts of the GCC in ending the crisis.
"We are keen on ending the crisis and the suffering of the people," he declared. "Dialogue is the only option to resolve the crisis."
Grundberg underscored the pressing need to support a comprehensive solution in Yemen.
He noted that Riyadh had led Yemeni dialogues that had led to positive results.
The Yemeni people want fair and lasting peace, he added. They have stressed to the UN their desire to end the war.
Grundberg described the ceasefire as a "step in the right direction."
For his part, Lenderking said the US supports the Yemeni parties in reaching a comprehensive peaceful solution.
The consultations are an international commitment to make the situation more stable, he remarked.
The consultations are set to discuss a number of military, political, humanitarian, relief and social issues. They also aim to open humanitarian corridors.
