Military

22 March 2004 – Members of the United Nations Security Council today expressed concern about the continued fighting in Burundi and urged all parties to show restraint and finish peace negotiations.

Talks between the Force nationals de liberation (Palipehutu-FNL) and the Government should be completed the "with a view to promote, as soon as possible, a complete cessation of hostilities and the participation of the Palipehutu-FNL in the transitional institutions," said the Council President for March, Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière of France, in a statement to the press.

Council members also "encouraged the transitional authorities to enact without delay the laws and regulations required for the holding of elections within the time limits provided for by the Arusha Agreement" of 28 August 2000, he added.

The Council paid tribute to the efforts made by the Member States of the Great Lakes Regional Initiative on Burundi, as well as by the African Union (AU), to bring peace to Burundi, according to the statement, which also hailed the efforts of the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), and of its constituent South African, Ethiopian and Mozambican contingents.

Noting that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended sending a UN peacekeeping mission soon to Burundi, Ambassador de La Sablière said the Council, without prejudice to its possible future action, invited the AU to consider extending the AMIB's mandate beyond the expiration date of 2 April.

The Council urged the international community to provide financial and logistical support to AMIB in the interim.