U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday congratulated Yemen on successfully concluding nearly year-long talks on the drafting of a new constitution. "Yemen has demonstrated to the region that positive change is possible when pursued through dialogue and compromise," the secretary-general said in a statement from his office. Ban commended the commitment of political actors to achieve a peaceful transition—particularly the leadership and determination of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the delegates of the conference—which have set Yemen "on the path to democratic governance." The U.N. chief urged Yemenis "to respond positively to the important decisions taken through the national dialogue and to work in good faith towards building a new Yemen."