After briefing by Nelson Mandela, Security Council condemns attacks on civilians in Burundi
29 September -- The United Nations Security Council today condemned all attacks on civilian populations in Burundi and urged armed rebel groups to settle their differences and implement the Arusha Peace Accord.
The call, which came in a statement by Council President Moctar Ouane of Mali, followed an open meeting during which former South African President Nelson Mandela -- the Facilitator of the Arusha peace process -- briefed Council members on the situation in Burundi.
In the presidential statement, the Council expressed its concern at the continuing level of violence, in particular that perpetrated by rebel groups despite the call to them for direct negotiations with the Burundian Government. The Council stressed that the key to achieving a lasting peace in Burundi lay with the warring parties and that compromise was the only means to reach such an agreement. It urged all sides to resolve their remaining differences and proceed with the implementation of the Arusha Peace Accord and encouraged regional States to use their influence to draw the armed groups into the peace process.
"Deeply concerned" at the dire economic, humanitarian and social conditions in Burundi, the Council called on all parties to cooperate fully with non-governmental and international organizations, and urged all those concerned to ensure that former camp inhabitants were protected, respected and enabled to return in safety to their homes. The Council also asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan to urgently report on specific actions the UN could take to help foster peace and economic recovery in Burundi.
In briefing the Security Council, Mr. Mandela stressed that there could be no justification for the violent attacks on Burundian civilians when a comprehensive political agreement had been reached, opening the way for all sides to bring their concerns to the political table. He called on the rebel groups to demonstrate the quality of their leadership, announce a ceasefire and halt the slaughter of innocent people. He also told the Security Council that if the armed groups were not included in the peace process, there was no guarantee that the issues agreed to recently in Arusha by the 19 political parties would be followed by the rebels.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who also addressed the Council this morning, called the Arusha agreement a "comprehensive blueprint" for the reform of Burundian society. "It addresses the root causes of the conflict, such as exclusion and genocide, as well as the tragic consequences of the war, including the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people," the Secretary-General said.
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