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1st LD: Madagascar's new prime minister takes office

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Madagascar's new Prime Minister Jean Ravelonarivo took office on Saturday after a power transfer with his predecessor Roger Kolo.

After leading the government for eight months, Kolo resigned on Monday night.

President Hery Rajaonarimampianina appointed Ravelonarivo as prime minister on Wednesday.

The power transfer was held at the prime minister's office in a ceremony attended by chiefs of institution in Madagascar, civilian and military government officials, and diplomatic corps in function in the country.

"The president was not wrong to appoint the General Jean Ravelonarivo as Prime minister; because I know the competency of the Prime minister," 72-year-old Roger said at the ceremony.

After leading the first government of Madagascar's forth Republic since April 2014, Kolo Roger, a medical specialist in radiology, resigned Monday night with his government and was replaced by the 56-year old navy, General Jean Ravelonarivo.

"The time of dream finished; we will work, work and work. I know the difficulty that await me in my future tasks; but whatever we do, when we do it with passion and in right way, there will not be any problem," the incoming prime minister said.

"My door is always opened only for talking about development," Ravelonarivo added.

Graduated in aircraft pilot from Kirovograd University in Russia, in International relationships from the University Of Paris, France, Jean Ravelonarivo was appointed Madagascar's prime minister by the president of republic Hery Rajaonarimampianina 24 hours after the resignation of his predecessor.

Ravelonarivo was a pilot of aircraft of former president Didier Ratsiraka from 1996 to 2001 while his wife was a secretary of Ratsiraka. He was also a General Director of the company SEIMAD, which built houses for public servants during the regime of Ratsiraka.

He was president of the association Rotary club in Madagascar before being appointed as prime minister.

Ravelonarivo is the 18th Malagasy prime minister since the independence of the Indian Ocean island country in 1960. Endi