PRESS CONFERENCE BY BURUNDI

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY BURUNDI

At a Headquarters press conference yesterday, the Foreign Minister of Burundi, Luc Rukingama, briefed correspondents on the peace process in his country. He said that on 25 July 1996, the Transitional Government had expressed its commitment to establishing a strong basis for lasting peace through the implementation of a peace process sustained by dialogue, with the goal of building national institutions by consensus. The peace process would be inclusive -- open to the Government, Parliament, political parties, civil society and armed groups.

The first step in the process had been a national debate, to prepare the population for negotiations, he said. The second step would involve peace conferences, to be organized for Burundians both in the country and abroad, to obtain general input on controversial issues. The third step would be a political dialogue open to all parties and groups involving regional and international mediation. That stage should being with a cessation of hostilities, include the writing of a new constitution and conclude with a general peace accord.

Mr. Rukingama said the economic blockade imposed on Burundi by neighbouring countries since 31 July 1996 had been a great hindrance to the early stages of the peace process. The extreme impoverishment of the Burundian population -- which had been severely deprived of such essential commodities as medicines, food, fertilizers, seeds and fuel -- had led to some resistance and scepticism regarding the proposed process. "On the humanitarian, social and economic side, the country almost collapsed", he went on to say. His Government was asking that pressure be exerted to ensure that the blockade -- "which only benefits the happy few, while it strikes very severely the most vulnerable groups of the society" -- would be lifted.

The second factor in creating favourable conditions for political dialogue was the control of terrorist groups, Mr. Rukingama said. The terrorist and genocidal gangs, which had caused death, spread distress and slaughtered innocent women, elders and children, had functioned out of neighbouring States. The groups, which included members of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy, the Interahamwe militia and former Rwandese and Zairian forces, had been devastating the entire Great Lakes region. They should be monitored and rendered harmless.

Mr. Rukingama said that his country expected the United Republic of Tanzania, as a neighbour, to allow Burundi's Embassy at Dar es Salaam to function normally and to facilitate diplomatic communication. For an entire year, that mission had been under occupation by terrorist and genocidal groups, in violation of all rules and laws.

More than 150,000 people had been slaughtered since October 1993 for their ethnic or political affiliations, he said. An international commission of inquiry sent to Burundi had confirmed that acts of genocide had been committed, and many international observers recommended the creation of an international tribunal for Burundi. The Government had also made several such requests to the United Nations. To punish the heinous crime of genocide and build a viable base for the peace process, the Government was renewing its appeal for the creation of such a tribunal.

The combined effects of the four-year crisis and an unprecedented economic blockade had devastated Burundi's economy, Mr. Rukingama said. "The international community, which has tirelessly expressed concern and provided assistance to Burundi, should help this country decisively in the humanitarian field, for reconstruction and though cooperation, for economic revival and development."

Asked the objective of his visit to the United States and the United Nations, Mr. Rukingama said he had come to explain the peace programme to Burundi's main partners, including what had been done, what lay ahead and the difficulties facing the nation. The visit was also aimed at mobilizing international assistance in that difficult process. In addition, he wanted to talk to United States officials about the urgent necessity of establishing an international tribunal regarding genocidal acts committed in his country. At the bilateral level, he also wished to sensitize partners, particularly the United States, to resume active cooperation with his country -- a necessity for the success of the peace process.

What was the current relationship between the Government and armed groups? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama said discussions with them had been under way for some months. Most of those groups were willing to talk, and if they were not, there would always be people who were willing to discuss efforts to create better conditions for national reconciliation.

A correspondent asked about progress in the negotiations. Mr. Rukingama said there had been three main phases. The first had involved discreet negotiations, in Rome, Italy, aimed at achieving a cease-fire. In the "open talks" phase, preparatory work had begun. Thirdly, there had been a national debate, designed to explain the process to all nationals and enable them to understand what was going on and to contribute to it.

Were the terrorist groups nationals or outsiders? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama said they represented a "coalition", including members of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy, forces of the former Government of Rwanda, former Zairian soldiers and some other armed groups. "In our understanding, all the countries in the Great Lakes region should come together to set up a strategy to fight those rebellions that had been attacking not only Burundi, but also Congo, Rwanda and even Uganda."

Burundi Press Conference - 3 - 16 July 1997

What countries were that the armed groups using as their base? a correspondent asked. "Most of them used to live in former Zaire", Mr. Rukingama said, "When they were fought by [President Laurent] Kabila's troops, they moved to Tanzania". Under the 1951 Geneva Convention, that country would have been expected to welcome only refugees without weapons or armaments, as that Convention did not permit refugees to get involved in either in the original country or in their asylum country. Moreover, the Convention also required that such refugees must be removed far from the frontiers. The refugees under consideration now were at the common border between Burundi and Tanzania, over which they crossed to commit genocide. Very recently, such gangs had even killed young pupils in a seminary in the southern part of the country.

A correspondent said that the Rwandese Government had admitted its part in the campaign to liberate Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Had Burundi participated also? Mr. Rukingama said that what was important for the foreign policy of Burundi was to promote good relations with neighbouring countries. The question had no importance for Burundi at all.

What kind of assistance had the United Nations provided Burundi in the peace process? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama expressed appreciation to United Nations agencies which had been helping the country, even during the crisis. The main fields where they had been helpful included humanitarian, health and food concerns. They had also helped in the reconstruction programme, and "we would like them to move progressively towards a development programme".

A correspondent asked about freedom of the press in Burundi. Could anyone start a newspaper or a radio station? Mr. Rukingama said there was a public press and a private press. Under the national regulations and laws, anyone could start a newspaper or radio station.

Asked about any views expressed by the Secretary-General on Burundi's call for a tribunal during their meeting yesterday, Mr. Rukingama said they had discussed the matter at some length. The Secretary-General had agreed that the issue was "open", and that the Security Council would be tackling it in the coming days.

Why was Burundi seeking the help of the United Nations in the area when nothing was happening in that respect in Rwanda, a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama said it was not right to say that nothing was happening in Rwanda. The principle of fighting impunity had been affirmed, the Tribunal had been set up and it had begun functioning, even if some mechanisms were not operating at the level some might have liked. The international community, the Secretary-General and the Security Council should speak openly about the need to condemn the genocide in Burundi, as had been done for Rwanda and the

Burundi Press Conference - 4 - 16 July 1997

former Yugoslavia. It should create such a tribunal and take steps to ensure that it would function effectively.

What role would the Organization of African Unity (OAU) play in the peace process? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama said the OAU had been helping Burundi to move towards a political solution. It should now support a complete lifting of the sanctions. Burundi would also appreciate the OAU's assistance to bring its bilateral relations with Tanzania to normal. The OAU should stress the need to condemn the killing of innocent people by the armed groups, he went on to say. It could also help by mobilizing and raising funds to support the peace process.

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