Secretary-General welcomes swearing in of Yemen's new government

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today the swearing in of the Government of National Unity in Yemen, calling it an important milestone in implementing the transitional agreement in the country.

Mr. Ban commended “the political leadership of Vice President Hadi, Prime Minister Basandwa and the cooperation from all sides that enable the timely formation of this Government, in accordance to the transition agreement signed in Riyadh on 23 November” said a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Under the accord, President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to hand over his powers to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi and presidential elections are to be held within the next three months.

The agreement followed months of deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Saleh and his regime, part of the so-called Arab Spring movement that has swept the Middle East and North Africa this year.

Mr. Ban called upon all sides “to work towards the full implementation of an inclusive Yemeni-led transition process, giving all Yemenis including women and the youth, a true stake in the country's future,” and stressed this is essential to put the country on a path towards restoring peace and stability and laying the foundations for economic recovery.

The Secretary General's Special Adviser for Yemen Jamal Benomar and his team are currently working closely with all stakeholders in the country, the Gulf Cooperation Council, members of the Security Council and other international partners.