Yemeni parties were optimistic on Monday on the eve of the signing of the Riyadh agreement between the legitimate government and Southern Transitional Council (STC).

The meeting in the Saudi capital is being held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and several officials from and ambassadors of Arab and western countries.

Officials from the legitimate government and the STC said the Riyadh agreement, which is sponsored by Saudi Arabia, paves the way for a new phase of partnership and cooperation. It will lead to the resumption of construction and developments projects, most notably in liberated regions in southern Yemen.

Yemeni circles said the return of the government to the interim capital, Aden, will help restore economic and security stability and reopen ministries, especially service-oriented ones.

STC spokesman Nizar Haitham said the council has placed high hopes on Saudi Arabia in ensuring the success of the agreement.

He hoped it would lead to “weapons being directed towards the common enemy of all parties, which are the Iran-backed Houthi militias.”

He also hoped it would lead to a new phase of cooperation and partnership in all fields with Saudi Arabia.

The deal will also define the relationship between the government and STC in the upcoming phase in Yemen and until the goals of Operation Decisive Storm are achieved, he remarked.

On the arrangements on the ground in Aden, he said Saudi Arabia has prepared security and military institutions.

“I believe affairs are more than excellent and we will remain optimistic as long as Saudi Arabia is leading efforts,” Haitham stressed.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani urged the government to cooperate positively with the Riyadh agreement and steer clear of political provocations.

He hailed Saudi Arabia’s “extraordinary” efforts to bring together all Yemeni parties and unite their ranks.