Secretary-General Welcomes Accord on Future Status of Southern Yemen,

 

Saying It Paves Way for New Federal State Structure

 

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached yesterday in the National Dialogue Conference on the future status of the South and the new structure of the Yemeni State.  His Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar, has been facilitating the negotiations on these issues for the past three months, working closely with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and leaders of political parties.

The Agreement provides for the creation of a new federal State, outlines principles that will guide its formation and stipulates a special arrangement for Southern representation in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as in the civil service.  It calls for the President to establish a committee that will determine the number of regions in the new federal State.  The agreement paves the way for establishing a new unified State, on the basis of federalism and democracy, which upholds human rights, the rule of law, and equal citizenship through the creation of a new State structure and social contract.

The Secretary-General calls on all sides to continue to work together in good faith and in collaboration with his Special Adviser with a view to resolving outstanding issues and advancing the political transition.

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For information media • not an official record