Riyadh: The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, during which he held talks aimed at creating conducive conditions for peace in Yemen.

According to Anadolu Agency, Grundberg's visit to Riyadh was part of his ongoing engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international stakeholders. The UN envoy held discussions with Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Buriek to address the latest political developments in Yemen, as well as economic conditions, including the impact of economic challenges on the daily lives of Yemenis.

Discussions highlighted the necessity of economic stabilization as a critical factor in creating conditions conducive to peace, and stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to address economic pressures alongside political engagement. Grundberg also met with the Yemeni government's Committee for Prisoners and Detainees and representatives of the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government. This was to follow up on the outcomes of recent negotiations between Yemen's warring rivals and ongoing efforts to agree on the names of conflict-related detainees to be released in the next phase.

The envoy emphasized the importance of maintaining current momentum and translating understandings into tangible progress. In December, the Yemeni government and the Houthi group signed an agreement in Muscat aimed at the mutual release of 2,900 prisoners and detainees, under UN auspices and with Omani mediation. Since April 2022, Yemen has seen a relative calm in a war that began more than 10 years ago between forces loyal to the internationally recognized government and the Houthi group, which has controlled several governorates and cities, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014.