People stand on the ruins of a building destroyed in the airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, Aug. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said Thursday that he is going to invite the warring parties in the war-torn country to consultations in Geneva next month.
"After having consulted with the parties, I plan therefore to invite them to Geneva on Sept. 6 for a first round of consultations," Griffiths told the Security Council.
The consultations will provide the opportunity for the parties to discuss the framework for negotiations, to agree on relevant confidence-building measures and specific plans for moving the process forward, he said.
He asked for support of the Security Council, saying he did not come lightly to that decision. "I have based this on the advice given to me in the months since assuming my responsibilities by Yemenis from all quarters."
Griffiths was upbeat about the peace prospects in Yemen. "I know, from this engagement, that a political solution to this war ... is available."
Yemen has been in civil war since 2015, pitting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.