RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS IN MADAGASCAR"IMPOSSIBILITY OF REACHING A CONSENSUS"

In its communiqué dated 28 August 2009, the Joint International Mediation Team emphasized the impossibility of reaching a consensus about the keypositions of the transition:
- The Presidency,
- The Vice Presidency,
- A Prime Minister of consensus.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that it will be impossible to reach a consensus as long as the position of President of the transition is given to the Rajoelina Movement. Such a scenario would ruinthe spirit of Maputo I and what has been achieved so far.I would like to stress that the Marc Ravalomanana Movement, in the superior interests of the Nation, made enormous concessions. Especially, I officially declared that I would not personally participate in thetransition. The Marc Ravalomanana Movement regrets the intransigence of the Rajoelina Movement, which is the cause of the deadlock

.After reading the final communiqué of Maputo II, the Marc Ravalomanana Movement considers that endorsing the scenario that gives the Presidency of the transition to the Andry Rajoelina Movement constitutes thefollowing clear message:"In Madagascar, one can take power by force in the street and then acquirelegitimacy as the final outcome of a truncated negotiation process."Such a practice constitutes a danger for present and future generations.

The Ravalomanana Movement would not like to condone it, nor to be responsible for setting a bad example for the Region, for the Continent,or even for the whole world. Accordingly, I reconfirm our stand against legitimizing coups. Moreover, I stand up against the process adopted by the Joint MediationTeam that did not always act in a fair and transparent manner, especially regarding the allocation of time to participants to voice their opinionsand the use of e-mails for consultations to finalize the resolutions.

Suchpractices are contrary to the very principles of negotiations. Nothing has been signed during Maputo II. Therefore, given what is stated above, the Marc Ravalomanana Movement would like to first, reiterate the impossibility of reaching a consensus about giving the Presidency of the transition to the Andry Rajoelina Movement, and second, reassure the International Community through the Joint Mediation Team that we are willing to search for other alternativeswith all the stakeholders.

Finally, the Marc Ravalomanana Movement would like to thank all those involved in the process aiming at the resolution of the present crisis.

Maputo, August 28, 2009