UN: Saudi Aramco attacks increase risk of regional conflict - UN Yemen envoy

W/S UN Security Council meeting on Yemen, New York City
SOT, Martin Griffiths, United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen: "The attack on Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia this past Saturday morning, 14th of September, which has caused significant disruption to the Kingdom's crude oil production, has consequences well beyond the region. And I echo of course the Secretary General statement condemning this attack. At a minimum, this kind of action carries the risk of dragging Yemen into a regional conflagration. Because of one thing we can be certain, and that is that this extremely serious incident makes the chances of a regional conflict that much higher and of a rapprochement that much lower. And with Yemen in some way or other linked, none of that is good for Yemen. And this is frankly terrifying and as an eventuality which runs completely counter to the many and detailed conversations I have had in recent weeks with people in the region, in Yemen and elsewhere, in favour of a series of steps to be taken by the parties towards de-escalation. It's not entirely clear who was behind the attack, but the fact that Ansarullah has claimed responsibility is bad enough. And whatever we will discover of the attack it is a sure sign that for Yemen the direction of travel seems to be away from the peace we all seek. And every day that war goes on, the greater the threat as we see to regional stability."
W/S UNSC meeting in progress *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations: "The United States condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms, standing firmly with our Saudi friends. We must all be clear-eyed about this event, a direct assault on the world energy supply. Claims of responsibility have been made, but as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has clearly stated, there is no evidence that the attacks came from Yemen. Emerging information indicates that responsibility lies with Iran."
W/S UNSC meeting in progress *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations (Arabic): "We thank the Kingdom for its commitment to Yemen's security, it's stability, its unity, and its territorial integrity. Indeed, all threats to Yemen's stability, is a threat to the Kingdom's security and stability. We thank the Kingdom for its very clear position, according to which it supports the legal institution of Yemen as represented by the President of the Republic of Yemen. We thank the Kingdom for its efforts to preserve the foundations of the Yemeni state and the interest of our people. They oppose the Houthi rebels, and we thank them for that. And we thank them for their efforts to guarantee that we do not forget the goals of the Coalition, to fight against Iranian interference in Yemeni domestic affairs."
W/S UNSC meeting ending
SCRIPT
United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia risked dragging Yemen into a regional "conflagration", as the US blamed Iran for the attacks during a UN Security Council meeting in New York City on Monday.
"This extremely serious incident makes the chances of a regional conflict that much higher and of a rapprochement that much lower," said Griffiths.
"Emerging information indicates that responsibility lies with Iran," said Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN Kelly Craft.
"We thank the Kingdom for its commitment to Yemen's security, it's stability, its unity, and its territorial integrity," said Permanent Representative of Yemen to the UN Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi in relation to Saudi Arabia. "Indeed, all threats to Yemen's stability, is a threat to the Kingdom's security and stability," he added.
The drone attacks took place on September 14 at an oil processing facility in Abqaiq and at Khurais oil field in Saudi Arabia, effectively disrupting half of its oil reserves. Houthi militants operating in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Mandatory credit: UNTV
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV