SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT IN ZIMBABWE ON GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached today in Harare between the Government and the opposition on a Government of national unity.

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 congratulates the parties for reaching agreement and commends the mediator, President Thabo Mbeki, for his tireless efforts to help them reach it.

The United Nations has been supporting the mediation process through the role of the Secretary-General's envoy, Haile Menkerios, in the Reference Group.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record