Helsinki (South24)

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Yesterday, consultations for parties from South Yemen began in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

 

The STC participated along with eight parties that included the Revolutionary Movement Council (Hirak).

The consultations took place at an invitation of the Finnish CMI Peace Foundation. It is the first of its kind abroad.

The deputy director of the STC Southern Dialogue Team, Ahmed bin Fareed, said: "For the first time since 1994, only Southern parties are called for dialogue on various issues."

Bin Fareed added on Twitter: "Everyone is determined to continue the journey of the Southern Dialogue until its goals are achieved."

In an exclusive statement to "South24" the head of the Revolutionary Movement, Fuad Rashid said today that they "finished a Southern meeting in Helsinki, in which we participated with other components."

Prominent Hirak official Fadi Baoum said that these talks represent "a real start for a serious Southern dialogue in Finland and will lead to impressive results."

It also showed a picture of many Southern figures, including the advisor to the former Yemeni president and commander of the Southern Movement, Yassin Makkawi.

South24 learned from an informed source that the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation (CMI) brought together the Southern parties in a workshop to discuss their vision for autonomy and federalism.

According to Ben Farid, all Southern parties emphasized that restoring the state is the ideal solution to the Southern issue on the path to peace.