CAIRO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Monday stressed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, stressing that their security is the responsibility of the Arab and African countries bordering them, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.
Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting in Cairo with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, during which they discussed the latest developments in Yemen and their repercussions on regional security, said the statement.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for Yemen's unity and legitimate national institutions, stressing the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis that would contribute to Yemen's stability. He also expressed Egypt's support for efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people and preserves the country's resources.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of Yemen's stability for the security of the Red Sea and regional security in general, noting that the security of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is directly linked to the global economy, particularly international trade and supply chains for food and energy.
Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group has intensified across southwestern Yemen recently after the group seized the strategic port city of Mocha and Mayyun Island in Bab al-Mandab earlier this month.
Yemen's conflict began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government. ■
