MADAGASCAR: UN TAKES PART IN NEW TALKS AIMED AT ENDING POLITICAL CRISIS

A senior United Nations official is participating today in fresh talks aimed at peacefully resolving the ongoing political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation of Madagascar.

Tiébilé Dramé, the senior UN political adviser on Madagascar, is part of an international mediation team that is brokering the talks in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, a UN spokesperson told journalists today.

Following weeks of unrest in Madagascar near the start of this year, President Marc Ravalomanana resigned in early March, amid a dispute with the mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, who now leads the country.

The crisis led to numerous politically motivated arrests, widespread violence and killings, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides to resume dialogue in a bid to end their differences.

Today's mediation efforts in Maputo are being chaired by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and they also include envoys from the African Union and La Francophonie.
________________

UN AND PARTNERS SEEK $36 MILLION TO AID MADAGASCAR AMID MULTIPLE CRISES

Six United Nations agencies and three non-governmental partners in Madagascar today appealed for $35.7 million to help prevent a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country, which has been hit this year by drought, cyclones and political unrest.

Some 2.5 million people living mainly in Madagascar's main cities and an additional 880,000 living in the drought-affected south now need humanitarian assistance, as a result of the multiple crises of recent months, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

With the majority of the population living under $1 a day, rising food prices and limited incomes have curtailed the ability of most households to have access to food, water and sanitation services, health and education.

OCHA added that the political crisis over the past three months has worsened the already precarious situation of large segments of the Malagasy population through disruptions in basic social services and a climate of fear and uncertainty.

It has also caused delays or a cessation of services to a number of aid and development projects across the Indian Ocean island nation.

Political tensions and unrest in the country culminated with the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana in early March, amid a dispute with the mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, who now leads the country.

The UN has repeatedly stressed that inclusive talks are the only means to bring about a smooth transition and a non-violent resolution to the crisis. The world body has been trying to assist the country through the efforts of Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios and UN Senior Adviser Tiébilé Dramé.

Speaking to reporters after briefing a closed-door session of the Security Council today, Mr. Menkerios called the current situation in Madagascar "untenable" and urged the parties to engage in dialogue on the way forward.

"The Council members expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional means of taking power by the former Mayor, and urged that there be a quick return to a constitutional order through a transitional process that is based on consensus reached through wide participation of all stakeholders in Madagascar," he stated.

"A return to constitutional order can only come by organizing quick elections where the people of Madagascar will decide," stressed Mr. Menkerios.
________________

UN BACKS DIALOGUE AS ONLY MEANS TO STABILIZE MADAGASCAR

The United Nations today reiterated its belief that inclusive talks are the only means to bring about a smooth transition in Madagascar, which saw the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana earlier this month.

Tensions have risen in the country in recent months, claiming some 100 lives and injuring many others since January, amid a dispute between Mr. Ravalomanana and the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, who now leads the country.

"The United Nations continues to believe that stability, prosperity and democratic freedoms can be ensured only through a consensual and inclusive dialogue process that would address the root causes of the crisis and would be accepted by all parties," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters today.

Tiébilé Dramé, the world body's senior adviser to the African island nation, was in New York this week for consultations and will be returning to Madagascar shortly.

"We will remain engaged through Mr. Dramé to help achieve a peaceful, consensual solution in Madagascar," Ms. Montas said. "The United Nations is ready to work with the Malagasy parties as well as regional and international partners to reach this goal."

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that a "peaceful path" to stability in Madagascar "can only be the result of transitional arrangements arrived at by consensus and enjoying wide support."

Further, he called on "all parties concerned to act responsibly to ensure stability and a smooth transition through democratic means," urging all concerned, particularly the police and the army, to "ensure the security of the population and work together toward a non-violent resolution of the crisis."
________________

BAN URGES MADAGASCAR PARTIES TO ACT RESPONSIBLY FOLLOWING PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION

BAN URGES MADAGASCAR PARTIES TO ACT RESPONSIBLY FOLLOWING PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION
New York, Mar 17 2009 3:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all parties in Madagascar to ensure stability and a smooth democratic transition following the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana.

"This peaceful path can only be the result of transitional arrangements arrived at by consensus and enjoying wide support," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement added that Mr. Ban is "gravely concerned" about the evolving developments in Madagascar, where tensions have been growing in recent months amid a dispute between the President and Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital, Anatananarivo.

Violence surrounding the dispute led to nearly 100 deaths and many more injuries since January.

"He urges all parties concerned to act responsibly to ensure stability and a smooth transition through democratic means," the statement said.

"The Secretary-General calls on all concerned, particularly the police and the army, to ensure the security of the population and work together toward a non-violent resolution of the crisis," it added.

The UN has been trying to help resolve the crisis through the efforts of Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios, who has been dispatched to the Indian Ocean island nation twice, as well as UN Senior Adviser Tiébilé Dramé.

Today's statement noted that the UN, along with all other partners, remains engaged to help achieve a peaceful, consensual solution in Madagascar.
________________

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."
________________