Security Council welcomes peaceful staging of presidential poll in Yemen

U.N. - Middle East Wednesday 22nd February, 2012

The Security Council today welcomed the holding of presidential elections in Yemen and encouraged the country's leaders to move on to the next stage of transition process as set out in the implementation mechanism of last year's agreement designed to end civil strife.

The Council congratulated the people of Yemen for the overall peaceful manner in which the elections were held and the encouraging levels of participation.

"The members of the Security Council underlined that this election is a significant step in the implementation of the political transition plan agreed to by Yemen's major political parties, based on the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative," said a press statement issued by Ambassador Kodjo Menan of Togo, which holds the Council's rotating presidency this month.

"They reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen."

The Council encouraged "all stakeholders" in Yemen to work together and take advantage of the strong international support to achieve unity and security in Yemen.

"This includes the fully inclusive National Dialogue, the constitutional review and the programme of reforms to tackle the profound security, humanitarian and economic challenges that Yemen faces," the Council's statement said.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also congratulated the people of Yemen, including the youth, who he said turned up in large numbers to cast their ballots, saying their participation was clear expression of their sincere desire for peaceful change.

Mr. Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, commended the Yemeni authorities for the way the largely peaceful election was conducted. However, he deplored the acts of violence that occurred in some areas in the south.

He noted that the poll represents an important step in the implementation of November's political agreement.

The Secretary-General said his Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, and his team are in the country "working closely with all Yemeni sides and international partners to support the implementation of the next steps of the transition roadmap, including the National Dialogue Conference and the subsequent constitution-making process."

Warring factions in Yemen signed an agreement in November on a transitional settlement under which President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to hand over power to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi, the sole candidate in yesterday's presidential election.