Lavrov: Houthi strikes will have a counterproductive effect

Moscow – Agencies: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed Moscow’s support for Riyadh’s efforts to implement the roadmap for a peaceful settlement in Yemen, describing Houthi strikes on Saudi territory as counterproductive. This came during a joint press conference held between Lavrov and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, following their talks in Moscow yesterday. In response to a question about Moscow’s stance on Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, Lavrov said: “We consider this to be counterproductive. We fully support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to continue implementing the roadmap that has been agreed upon and approved.” He added: “We believe it is unacceptable to attempt to resolve these issues through military means, especially since this approach not only threatens civilians and civilian facilities, but also inflicts severe damage on the global economy, given the strategic importance of the Arabian Peninsula and its surrounding waters in ensuring the normal functioning of global trade routes.”