- The situation in Madagascar has entered a new phase with the declaration by the High Constitutional Court that the vote recount shows former opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana to be the winner of the presidential election, said Foreign Minister Petersen.

- It is to be hoped that this will pave the way for urgently needed political normalization in the country, even though the threats to national unity from the losing candidate’s side must be taken seriously. Now that Mr Marc Ravalomanana has taken the formal oath of office, the main responsibility for implementing the national peace process must lie with him. The damage done by the last few months of conflict must be mended and a unified nation must be built on a basis of peace and reconciliation, said the Foreign Minister.