Algiers, 13 September 2014 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSMA, Mr. Albert Koenders, is encouraged by the constructive discussions and recommendationsmade by the civil society and community representatives, in Algiers, during the second phase of the negotiations between the government of Mali and the armed movements.

"The participants not only agreed to a large extent upon the root causes and the multifaceted challenges of the Malian crisis but also proposed tangible solutions for addressing them. The discussions took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect driven by the desire to collectively and effectively address the crisis that has lasted for too long. It is important to reassure all representatives that their recommendations will continue to be given due consideration throughout the negotiations," said Mr. Koenders.

In his capacity as co-mediator, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General continues to work closely with the mediation team to prepare the ground for the start of direct negotiations between the government of Mali and armed movements.

"It is rare to witness the level of consensus and coherence among the international community that we encounter in Algiers today. All Malian stakeholders have a unique opportunity to overcome their differences and solidify a durable peace agreement. I therefore reiterate my call to all parties to remain committed to dialogue,to propose concrete and tangible solutions and at the same time  ensure security on the groundwith a view to reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the negotiations in a timely and constructive manner," he concluded.