SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS DID NOT REFLECT ‘TRUE AND GENUINE’ WILL

OF ZIMBABWEANS OR PRODUCE LEGITIMATE RESULT; SEEKS END TO VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General supports the views expressed by the President of the Security Council regretting the decision by the Government of Zimbabwe to go ahead with the presidential elections.  The Secretary-General has said repeatedly that conditions were not in place for a free and fair election, and observers have confirmed this from the deeply flawed process.  The outcome did not reflect the true and genuine will of the Zimbabwean people, or produce a legitimate result.

The Secretary-General encourages efforts of the two sides to negotiate a political solution that would end violence and intimidation.  He supports the efforts of the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to promote an agreement acceptable to the people of Zimbabwe.  The Deputy Secretary-General and his Envoy, Haile Menkerios, are at the Africa Union Summit and are ready to help in any way possible to produce this result.

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For information media • not an official record