The Secretary-General congratulates the people of the Maldives on the peaceful conduct of their nation's first multi-party Presidential election, which marked an important step forward in the country's democratic reform process. He commends both the outgoing President and the President-elect for their statesmanship, and urges them to continue to work together to ensure a smooth transition of power. The Secretary-General encourages all parties to work in a cooperative manner and continue to carry forward the reform process aimed at achieving a more open and democratic Maldives.