DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - BURUNDI (L)
NUMBER=2-259449
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton is urging the parties to
Burundi's civil war to put down their arms and join
talks aimed at ending the conflict. Mr. Clinton spoke
by video link-up to a Burundi peace conference in
Arusha, Tanzania Tuesday. Correspondent Deborah Tate
reports from the White House.
TEXT: Arguing that violence breeds more violence and
sustainable peace and security can be achieved only by
negotiation, Mr. Clinton called on the main rebel
groups who have stayed away from the Arusha talks to
end their boycott:
/// FIRST CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
I call upon those armed groups still using
violence to suspend hostilities and come to the
negotiating table. You do not have to abandon
your points of view just to defend them with the
force of argument, not the force of arms.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton urged the parties to the conflict to let
go of past grievances, and he dismissed naysayers who
believe reconciliation is not possible in the region.
He pledged the United States would support the peace
process, but he said it is up to Burundi's leaders to
do what is necessary to stabilize Africa's Great Lakes
region, which has been wracked by ethnic violence for
a decade.
/// SECOND CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The real question for the leaders from Burundi
who have gathered in Arusha is whether your
country will share in the promise of this
future. Will you lead to a lasting settlement
for the larger conflicts in the Great Lakes
region? Will you show the way for other
societies in Europe and Asia that are also
victimized by these kinds of ethnic conflicts,
or will you hesitate and falter? If that were
to happen, I am afraid a disaster would befall
your people, and seep beyond your borders.
/// END ACT //
..
Mr. Clinton was invited to address the conference by
former South African President Nelson Mandela, who is
acting as mediator in the Burundi peace process.
Mr. Mandela says the U-S leader's remarks will be - as
he put it - a source of encouragement and tremendous
strength to those who are searching for peace in
Burundi.
Warning that the peace effort is running short of
money, Mr. Mandela called on the United States and
other industrialized nations to contribute. Mr.
Clinton, for his part, pledged to help create the
economic conditions necessary to sustain peace,
although he offered no specifics.
Shortly after the President spoke, U-S envoy Howard
Wolpe [`vohl-pay], speaking to reporters at the White
House by satellite from the summit in Arusha, said the
conference had received some positive signs that
rebels who stayed away from the talks are having
second thoughts.
/// WOLPE ACTUALITY ///
We have seen some indications from some of the
rebel groups and in one instance from people who
purport to be speaking on behalf of another
rebel group, -- we are not clear about
the internal organization of that group yet -
we have seen them say they want to sit down with
President Mandela and begin that dialogue. That
is obviously encouraging.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Wolpe says the international attention to the
Burundi peace process has helped boost confidence
among the parties - giving them the sense that the
world community cares about their situation. (Signed)
Neb/DAT/gm/africa
22-Feb-2000 14:17 PM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1917 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
