SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT ARMED FORCES OF BURUNDI HAVE OVERTHROWN LEGITIMATE COALITION GOVERNMENT
Press Release
SG/SM/6029
SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT ARMED FORCES OF BURUNDI HAVE OVERTHROWN LEGITIMATE COALITION GOVERNMENT
19960725 The following statement was made today by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is deeply concerned by reports that the armed forces of Burundi have overthrown the legitimate coalition Government and announced the installation of a new president. The situation remains uncertain and the Secretary-General is in frequent contact with his Special Representative for Burundi, Marc Faguy.
The Secretary-General strongly urges all concerned to uphold the Constitution and to bear in mind that the international community will on no account accept a change of government by force or other illegitimate means in Burundi. The armed forces should also recognize that a coup d'etat will not solve any of Burundi's problems and is only likely to intensify violence on all sides.
He calls upon the armed forces, all political parties and the people of Burundi to show restraint and prevent a new outbreak of violence which will only increase the extent and duration of the suffering of the people of Burundi.
The Secretary-General supports calls for a regional summit meeting that should be urgently convened to discuss ways of calming the situation in Burundi.
The Security Council, in its presidential statement, yesterday again urged the Secretary-General to continue with contingency planning for a rapid humanitarian response in the event of widespread violence in Burundi. The Secretariat has intensified the consultations it has been holding with Member States over the last few months concerning the creation of and support for such an intervention force.
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