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UN HAILS
PROGRESS IN ZIMBABWE AS GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION AGREE TO SHARE POWER, BY CAROLINE PATTON:
15/09/2008
(MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 15
September 2008 -- After
months of conflict and uncertainty following a disputed election already marred
by violence, a compromise has finally been brokered in
Zimbabwe
in which to President Robert Mugabe
and opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara agree to share
power.
The
country has experienced instability and
humanitarian problems aggravated by
controversy over the March election and the
fighting that surrounded the run-off several
months later and led challenger Morgan
Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) to abandon the contest.
The
Secretary-General dispatched Haile Menkerios,
Assistant Secretary-General for Political
Affairs to attend the signing in
Harare
. He conveyed to them Mr. Ban’s pleasure
that an agreement has been reached but also
urged all the parties to follow through on
their obligations under the new arrangement.
Mr.
Ban has told the international community
that he “hopes that this agreement
will pave the way for a durable peace and
recovery in the country and contribute to
rapid improvement in the welfare and human
rights of the people of
Zimbabwe
, who have suffered for long.” He praised
all those involved and also expressed
gratitude to South African President Thabo
Mbeki, who was instrumental in helping the
two sides to reach an accord.
The
UN has added that, “[t]he role of the
Secretary General and his support of the
mediation process through the UN’s role in
the reference group was acknowledged by the
parties and by President Mbeki in their
statements” as the deal was signed.
Mr.
Menkerios added that the UN continues to be
prepared to lend its aid to humanitarian and
aid operations and will help facilitate
renewed stability in
Zimbabwe
, in line with the requirements of
government of national unity. As part of his
trip he spoke with the UN personnel in
Harare
and attended the Reference Group, charged
with bringing a conclusion to the upheaval
in
Zimbabwe
, as the UN’s representative.
This
development should help the humanitarian
situation there, especially coming two weeks
after the country ended a suspension of
international assistance operations that was
implemented in June. The government agreed
to discuss the future work of aid
organizations with the UN, its partners,
NGOs, and PVOs.
Coming
as it did at a time when there was food was
already scarce and inflation elevated prices
above the means of many in the country, the
ban contributed to the deterioration of the
situation and lead the Secretary-General to
speak out against the move. Of the 1.5
million who required aid, only 280,000 were
receiving it.
The
Secretary-General said of the resumption of
aid activities, “This
positive development will help ensure that
neutral and impartial humanitarian
assistance is provided to the people of
Zimbabwe
.” His office went on to say that, “He
would like to emphasize the importance of
ensuring that people in need have full
access to humanitarian assistance essential
to their health and well-being and that
humanitarian organizations have full and
unhindered access to vulnerable populations
in order to carry out vital relief
operations.”
--- Caroline
Patton
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