Secretary-general welcomes swearing in of morgan tsvangirai as Zimbabwe’s

prime minister, reiterates un offer of support in RECovery EFFORTS

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the swearing-in of Morgan Tsvangirai as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe today.  This is an important step in the implementation of the 15 September Global Peace Agreement between the Zimbabwean parties.

The new Government of national unity will need to immediately address the economic and humanitarian crises in the country, including the current cholera epidemic.  The period ahead will also be critical for consolidating human rights and democratic freedoms.  The United Nations reiterates its offer of support to the new Government in its recovery efforts to ease the suffering of the Zimbabwean people.

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For information media • not an official record