The Southern Transitional Council (STC) "took the decision of self-government, but not self-rule," member of the STC leading board said Friday.
"There is a wide difference between self-administration and self-rule," Nasser Khobboji, also STC senior negotiator and head of committee monitoring the Riyadh Agreement application, added at interview with the Sputnik International.
"Self-government has been applied in Marib for years now, with all the governorate's resources channeled for development and other projects in Marib.
"This is what we seek to achieve in southern governorates. It's not in conflict with provisions of the Riyadh pact. In fact, the self-government and Riyadh deal lead to the same end, i.e. giving priority to citizen service, development, promoted partnership in public management, and creating a positive model in liberated provinces," he argued.
"Our steps will be decided by how the other parties will deal with the southern people issue; if our people issue is ignored, we won't keep silent. We have any cards to use in the appropriate time and way."
The Emirati-backed STC deals with Hadi as Yemen's legitimate president and "it's the only local party that supports his role on the ground. Wins made against the Houthi militias are limited to frontlines led by STC southern resistance," Khobboji claimed.
The Riyadh deal pave way for "inclusive political process. We dealt with it in absolute positivity and exerted all efforts necessary for its application that, unfortunately, was stalled as scheduled, since the government adopted a policy systematically obstructing the Saudi efforts.
"We're still dealing positively with brothers' efforts in this regard, showing willingness to implement the pact without selectivity or delay," the STC official added, noting that they do not rule out new negotiations with the Yemeni official government.
The STC's demands can be "summarized in the application of the Riyadh Agreement's provisions completely, without selectivity or evasion, taking in consideration that priority should be given to issues touching the citizens' concerns and needs, such as services, life and dignity of the people in the south.
"Among our key demands, in order for the Riyadh deal be applied, is the commencement of implementing the political and economic course, at top of which is the immediate formation of a national technocrat equally-shared government, and formation of economic and monitoring bodies," Mr. Khobboji said.
