Annan welcomes accord on resolving political crisis in Madagascar

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today welcomed the accord reached in Senegal on Thursday to resolve the political crisis in Madagascar over disputed presidential elections.

The agreement, signed yesterday by President Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, was negotiated in Dakar under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations and facilitated by the Presidents of Senegal, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Mozambique.

"The agreement represents a major step forward toward the resolution of the political crisis, which has persisted in Madagascar since the first round of presidential elections last December," a spokesman for the Secretary-General said in a statement released in New York. "The Secretary-General expresses the hope that with this agreement, the constitutional order in Madagascar will be restored very soon."

Mr. Annan was represented at the talks by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahima Fall.