SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR DIALOGUE IN MADAGASCAR AS TENSIONS SPIRAL

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR DIALOGUE IN MADAGASCAR AS TENSIONS SPIRAL
New York, Mar 12 2009 4:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for dialogue between the parties to a high-level dispute in Madagascar, as tensions continued to escalate and concern rose over divisions in the armed forces.

President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital, Anatananarivo, declared last month that they are committed to starting a UN-facilitated dialogue to resolve their differences.

Nearly 100 people were killed and many more injured since January in violence that erupted amid their dispute.

Through a statement issued by his spokesperson today, Mr. Ban reiterated that "the only solution to the current crisis is the resumption of dialogue and calls on both parties to fulfil their commitment to resolve their differences within the framework of an inclusive National Conference."

Noting the concern over divisions within the armed forces, he welcomed the military's decision to continue to respect Constitutional order, according to the statement.

"UN Senior Adviser, Mr. Tiébilé Dramé, remains engaged to help facilitate the talks and provide full UN support to the much needed national reconciliation process," the statement affirmed.

Assistant Secretary-General Haile Menkerios, who has also been dispatched to the Indian Ocean island nation twice, has said that the first instalment of negotiations entailed the President and the Mayor's camps reaching agreement on how to stabilize the situation.

The next phase – drawing in an expanded group including representatives of other political parties, civil society, youth, women and others – would be geared towards tackling root causes, including "problems of governance on a wider scale – political, economic and social."
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UNICEF CONDEMNS INTIMIDATION OF CHILDREN AND TEACHERS IN MADAGASCAR

UNICEF CONDEMNS INTIMIDATION OF CHILDREN AND TEACHERS IN MADAGASCAR
New York, Mar 5 2009 11:00AM

Teachers and their pupils in Madagascar suffered threats and intimidation yesterday, prompting the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to call on Malagasy authorities, parties and people to "respect the fundamental rights of children and to abstain from all actions that put children in peril."

UNICEF also condemned the abusive behaviour against schoolchildren in at least one lower secondary and one upper secondary school in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar and its largest city, maintaining that "all schools must be havens of peace and security."

"According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child below the age of 18 years has the right to personal respect and to physical and psycho-social well-being in the context of the family, community and school," UNICEF said in a statement released by its office in Madagascar today.

The agency said that its mission is to defend children's rights, basing its work on the articles and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in effect in Madagascar since 1991.

The statement read that "UNICEF is continuing its work for the survival, well-being, development and protection of all children in Madagascar," where recent political unrest led to several deaths.

Earlier this year, at least 68 people died in riots that erupted amid a dispute between the country's President, Marc Ravalomanana, and Andry Rajoelina, the Mayor of Anatananarivo.
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SECRETARY-GENERAL DISPATCHES SENIOR UN POLITICAL AIDE TO MADAGASCAR

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISPATCHES SENIOR UN POLITICAL AIDE TO MADAGASCAR
New York, Feb 26 2009 5:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has dispatched a senior United Nations political aide to Madagascar, following a request from the Government for a more active role by the world body in dealing with the political tensions in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Assistant Secretary-General Haile Menkerios, who had been sent to Madagascar in early February to assess the situation, was travelling with Mr. Ban in Africa when he was asked to return to the country to continue the UN's good offices work there.

President Marc Ravalomanana and the Mayor of the capital, Anatananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, declared earlier this month that they are committed to start a United Nations-facilitated dialogue and to resolve their differences peacefully. Close to 100 people were killed and many more injured in violence that erupted several weeks ago amid their dispute.

Upon his arrival in Madagascar today, Mr. Menkerios met with Mr. Ravalomanana. He was also expected to meet with Mr. Rajoelina.

Last night, the Secretary-General met at the airport in Johannesburg with two government ministers from Madagascar, who asked for a more active UN role in dealing with the parties in the country.

Mr. Ban assured them that a mediator has been appointed who would arrive in Madagascar shortly, in addition to Mr. Menkerios.
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