Madagascar
Europe may recognise Ravalomanana before OAU

afrol News, 24 June - The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to afrol News that Marc Ravalomanana had been "de facto recognised" as President of Madagascar, although "not explicitly". Although one supported the peace efforts of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), there was no need to wait for OAU's recognition of Ravalomanana's government. 

Press spokesman Karsten Klepsvik Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs however distanced himself from the description of BBC News, claiming Norway had "recognised Mr Ravalomanana as President of Madagascar." This was an exaggeration, the spokesman held. 

Klepsvik referred to a press statement of 6 May, where Foreign Minister Jan Petersen had said "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." This was "not an explicit recognition of Ravalomanana but a de facto recognition," Klepsvik told afrol News. Norway had not changed its position on Madagascar since 6 May.

Asked whether other Western countries had recognised Ravalomanana's government (the BBC mentions the United States and Switzerland), Klepsvik answers he was unaware of that. "The United States are however very close to our position on Madagascar," he said, referring to Norway's de facto recognition of Ravalomanana. This was also the case of other European countries.

Analysts claim that the reluctance of the OAU to recognise Ravalomanana is the reason for other countries' wait-and-see position. The recent OAU meeting in Addis Ababa concluded without recognition of the Antananarivo government. Further, Madagascar's seat in the OAU was to remain vacant during the upcoming session, the organisation decided. 

Spokesman Klepsvik however denied the OAU would have to be first in recognising Ravalomanana's government. "It is not certain that all European countries will wait for the OAU," he said, while underlining the Norwegian government's hailing of the OAU's peace efforts in Madagascar.

- What is happening on the ground is establishing facts, the spokesman said, referring to the military victories of President Ravalomanana's troops. He indicated that there was no need to wait for Ravalomanana's total victory of or for an OAU recognition. 

Klepsvik's statements further underline the growing distance between Western and African views on the Malagasy crisis. While Europe and the US "de facto" recognise Ravalomanana, the OAU in Addis Ababa had called for new elections in Madagascar - thus clearly rejecting the Malagasy High Constitutional Court's May recount of the votes and declaration of Ravalomanana as the island's rightful President.

Sources: Based on Mr Klepsvik and afrol archives 

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