PRESS CONFERENCE BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BURUNDI

2 October 1996

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BURUNDI

19961002 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burundi, Luc Rukingama, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference today that there was an urgent need for the international community to condemn the "dangerous current" in relations between States, and to act to put a stop to the blockade declared against Burundi. He was referring to sanctions imposed on Burundi by its neighbours after the 31 July summit meeting of its leaders.

He added that ending the blockade "was a moral obligation for the credibility of the United Nations, the conscience of a world that speaks in terms of solidarity and cannot endorse the aggravation of the suffering of the people of Burundi, and the curtailment of the chances of the process of peace, reconciliation, and economic and social recovery of Burundi".

Mr. Rukingama said that while the fifty-first session of the General Assembly was taking place during a "severe crisis" in Burundi, there recently was a positive change. On 25 July, a transitional institutional system of Government was set up for a three-year period. It was headed by President Pierre Buyoya, a politician who had led the country towards national unity and democracy at a very early stage in the 1990s.

The Burundians welcomed the establishment of a transitional institution with a "sigh of relief", he said. Some members of the international community encouraged the new Government to work towards a return to peace and security and to normal constitutional life. On the other hand, neighbouring countries reacted by imposing on 31 July, a land, air and lake blockage on an enclaved country already weakened by three years of civil war. Institutions were blocked, there was an increased level of genocidal massacres, and an atmosphere of insurrection prevailed. At risk was the survival of a "profoundly wounded" population.

He added that the blockade was a serious violation of the following principles: the right of a people to self-determination, sovereign equality of States, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, non-use of force, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and freedom of transit and trade for all States, especially those which were land-locked.

According to the initiators of the blockade, its purpose was solely political, he said. It was meant to return Burundi to constitutional legality, meaning the restoration of the National Assembly, the unbanning of political parties, and the immediate, unconditional negotiations with the armed groups. The restoration of the National Assembly and political parties took place on 12 September. A formal pledge to engage in dialogue with the armed factions was reiterated on 13 September. Any possible pretext for that new form of interventionism had, therefore, been eliminated. Yet, the embargo was still operative except in a few cases.

Turning to what he called the "nefarious" side effects of the blockade against Burundi, Mr. Rukingama said that politically, it had the effect of radicalizing the extreme positions, especially the rebellion. Socially, it offended the fundamental rights of the most vulnerable people in Burundi, namely the children, women, the elderly and disaster victims. Basic drugs were not available, surgery, including emergency procedures, could no longer be performed, and vaccinations of children had been halted -- resulting in a new outbreak of prenatal tetanus, measles, and whooping cough, thus annihilating the efforts of an expanded programme of immunization over the past 15 years.

As the current rainy season begins, there were no antibiotics and no rehydration infusions at a time when there was generally an epidemic upsurge of diseases such as cholera and dysentery, he said. Malnutrition had already increased, and children were forced to stop attending school.

The economic result of the embargo was a 30 per cent decline in the national production of food crops, a 10 per cent decline of industrial crop production, 24 per cent for livestock, and 30 per cent in the industrial sector, he said. The balance of payments for the rest of the year would show a profit loss of 25 billion in Burundi francs. The inflation rate was already reaching 40 per cent. The total value of losses in the economic sector was estimated at $127 million dollars, including a considerable loss of income to peasants.

In a question about what measures the Government had undertaken to ensure the safety of the members of the National Assembly and of political leaders, Mr. Rukingama said the security sector had been revitalized, and members of the Parliament, the President of the National Assembly, as well as some politicians had additional security staff. Throughout the country, there was a redeployment of the security forces, and additional contributions had been made by individuals in that regard. In an official note verbale to the individual sheltering the former President, the Government had clearly expressed its will to protect the former President, as well as all dignitary members of the former regime. Where previously there had been more than 30 individuals seeking shelter, only one individual now remained outside such shelter.

Asked if he had raised the issue of sanctions in his meeting today with the Secretary-General, Mr. Rukingama said it was not for the Secretary-General

Burundi Press Conference - 3 - 2 October 1996

to lift the sanctions. That depended on the good will of the neighbouring countries. He hoped that an upcoming subregional summit on 11 October would result in lifting the embargo. Asked in a follow-up question about who was participating in the embargo, he said there was an exhaustive list that mainly included government officials of the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and from time to time, Zaire and Ethiopia.

Asked about negotiations with his opponents, he said the Government was committed to dialogue with all groups, including armed groups. The problem was not on the Government side. Paradoxically, pressure was being placed on those who were promoting dialogue, whereas no pressure was being placed on the armed groups who continued to kill innocent people, and who had just assassinated an Archbishop there. He hoped the international community would put pressure on the armed groups to force them to talk in order to find solutions. His Government had already indicated to neighbouring countries, to the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and to the President of the Security Council, his readiness to talk. There was presently no dialogue with the rebels, who first had to stop the massacres.

Asked in a follow-up whether that was a precondition for dialogue with armed groups, that they first of all reject violence and lay down their weapons, Mr. Rukingama said he had stressed that condition, but it was not a precondition for dialogue. Wisdom would dictate, however, that those armed groups had to stop killing people if they wished to speak on the people's behalf. The Government found itself "in a bind", he added.

To a question about his relations with the Holy See in light of the assassination of the Archbishop, he said the Holy See was one of the institutions that was following events in Burundi very closely. When the reconciliation process was concluded in the 1990s, the Pope came to Burundi to express his message of unity and peace. Also, a Cardinal had come to the funeral of the Archbishop, and had said that the Holy See was still on Burundi's side. In addition, the Holy See had stated that economic sanctions against Burundi did not provide a chance for peace.

Asked how he explained the fact that men of the Church were being attacked, he said he did not think they were attacked specifically because they were men of the Church, but because of their expressed appeals for unity, reconciliation and peace in Burundi.

A correspondent asked if he had received any kind of support by the international community for his appeal to put pressure on Burundi's neighbours in order to lift the embargo on 11 October. Mr. Rukingama said he had broad support in the international community, including those who had said they did not understand measures that were not going to achieve anything politically, economically or socially. "When history seeks to lay the blame on someone for the death and suffering in Burundi, we do not want our neighbouring countries to whom we are so dearly attached to suffer that blame", he concluded.

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