MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is considered to be a friendly country by the Yemeni people and Moscow's role in resolving the crisis in this country is positive, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul-Malik Mahlafi said.
"Russia has always been and is still a country very close to the Yemeni people. I consider that Russia plays a positive role in the solution of the Yemeni issue," Mahlafi told the broadcaster RT.
He added that Moscow's position in the Yemeni conflict was objective and it backed both a national dialogue and a peace process.
Since 2014, Yemen has been in a state of military conflict, between the government, headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, and Houthi rebels, supported by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
In late March, a Saudi-led coalition started carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions at Hadi’s request.
