Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana confirmed the scheduled four-day visit of a senior United Nations official beginning from Saturday to help the island country to find a way out of the current political crisis.
Ravalomanana told a government council meeting here Thursday evening that, at the invitation of his government, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon would send Haile Menkerios, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to talk with him, his rival Andry Rajoelina, major of the capital city and others concerned.
Earlier on Thursday, UN spokesperson Maria Okabe announced that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was sending Haile Menkerios to Madagascar "to assess the situation in the country and explore what the United Nations could do to help avert further violence and contribute towards peace and stability".
Ravalomanana appreciated the confirmation of the African Union to hold the 13th AU summit here from July 1 to 3, saying that it was an honour for his country to host such an event, the first of such in the Indian Ocean island country.
The president called his people for peace and serenity and promised to take necessary measures to meet the daily needs of the people and an earlier return of normal life.