Rome-Fiesole, 16 June 2017. The European University Institute (EUI) of Florence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) hosted a session of the Informal Dialogue on the future constitutional framework to be promoted in Yemen. The Country has been in the grips of a tragic civil war for the past two years, after a promising political transition which started in 2011 following the Arab Spring. The initiative was launched by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen and conducted by the think-tank IDEA International.
“Italy, which currently holds the G7 Presidency and is a member of the UN Security Council, is actively engaged in promoting a negotiated and inclusive solution to Yemen’s civil war,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, when commenting on the initiative.
“Our active support to an Intra-Yemeni Dialogue on constitutional arrangements,” explained Minister Alfano, “forms part of a larger set of peace and security-promoting initiatives which the Farnesina has also been carrying out through a strategy designed to capitalise on the relationship with prestigious academic and cultural institutions operating in the field of international relations.”
Aside from Yemeni legal and constitutional law experts, the event was also attended by representatives of institutions, movements and NGOs from both sides of the conflict, which sees the internationally recognized Government of President Hadi, supported by a coalition of Arab countries, opposing an alliance between the Huthis and the deposed President Saleh.
MAECI Special Envoy to Yemen, Gianfranco Petruzzella, together with the EUI president, Renaud Dehousse, and professor Nehal Bhuta, chair of Public International Law and co-director of the Law Academy at EUI, attended the final session of the Dialogue, which was hosted at Villa Salviati, the prestigious headquarters of the European University Institute (EUI) The Dialogue was developed in a reserved setting, considering the initiative’s informal nature. Participants expressed their sincere appreciation for the hospitality of the EUI and the support provided by MAECI, which allowed for a constructive and calm debate on the Country’s future constitution, which is key to secure stability in Yemen in a much hoped-for post-conflict situation.
