PRESS CONFERENCE BY BURUNDI'S MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY BURUNDI'S MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

At a Headquarters press conference this morning, the Minister for External Relations of Burundi, Luc Rukingama, said his country was pursuing the peace process through dialogue, but some external actions, particularly the economic sanctions against it, were a "knife in the wound of civil war". The removal of those sanctions would help Burundi regain stability. Other helpful steps would be to broaden the body of mediators involved in Burundi and to extend the venue beyond the subregional level, with two or three external negotiators added to the mainly African ones at present. Perhaps the European Union could contribute to the process, since it had interests in the region.

Mr. Rukingama said his Government's first step had been to stop the violence and eliminate the pressures stemming from genocide. The situation had improved considerably in the last year, with children back in school and farmers working fields. As the violence ceased, the displaced were spontaneously returning to villages. Soon the centres for the displaced would be empty and closed. At the same time, in keeping with its commitment, his Government was pursuing the peace process, which was a political matter.

After stopping the violence, the Government had re-established political parties within parliament during the last year, and it had begun negotiations with the main armed force in 1996. Within the last weeks, and in the context of a national debate, the Government had begun a round table that brought together representatives of all the country's major forces. Recommendations coming out of those sessions had already been made public. From 26 to 28 September, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris had brought together all Burundi's partners in the peace process. That fruitful discussion had started the peace process.

Acknowledging the help of the United Republic of Tanzania in assisting Burundi's negotiations, Mr. Rukingama said his Government had never refused to negotiate. However, with regard to the Dar es Salaam meeting, Burundi was disappointed at not being invited to a high-level meeting about itself. His Government wanted only a neutral and experienced negotiator involved in the second stage of negotiations, which could begin as soon as a commonly established date was set. Several factors, such as a lack of transparency about questions involving Burundi and the refusal to invite Burundi to high- level summit meetings, placed the mediator into the position of "judge and jury". That was incompatible with the mission, because those factors, along with the economic sanctions, were destroying the trust so necessary to the process.

Burundi Press Conference - 2 - 3 October 1997

In response to a question, Mr. Rukingama elaborated on the negative impact of the sanctions at the political, social and economic levels. He said the sanctions were blocking the peace process by creating a wider gap between the people, the Government and the mediating partners. At the social level, the economic life of the country had come to a halt, including in the import/export sector of Burundi's most important coffee and tea trade. People were unable to work, there was no fuel, health was affected and national activities were at a halt. That summary of the situation was backed up by statistics about social and economic deterioration from 1993 to the present, which included a rise of inflation, a fall of economic growth, and a decrease in vaccination and school participation.

When asked if Secretary-General Kofi Annan, during a meeting, had given assurance that the sanctions would be lifted, Mr. Rukingama said the sanctions were not a United Nations matter, but had been imposed by a group of countries who claimed to have no interest in causing difficulties to women and children in Burundi.

Pointing out that neighbouring countries had regional stability at stake, a correspondent asked what Burundi could bring to the table as reassurance to its neighbours that stability would remain if economic sanctions were lifted. "Rebellion is not a Burundi specialty", Mr. Rukingama responded, adding that Burundi had halted genocide and restored its stability in the last year. It was now establishing structures and developing solutions. It had also opened talks in the subregion. All his Government was asking of its neighbours was to provide a neutral venue for negotiations. The United Republic of Tanzania was the promoter of sanctions against Burundi and also shared a border, from which rebels arose. Relations with Burundi and stability in the region would improve, if more parties with more experience were involved in negotiations.

Asked whether Burundi had asked for more negotiators, Mr. Rukingama said no one had been named, but, for example, the two or three more mediators desired for the team could be selected from those who had experience in Mozambique or South Africa. The subregion needed to play the important role on the team that was rightfully mostly African, but the peace process should not be in the hands of one party.

Was there a role for the United States Secretary of State? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rukingama said he would appreciate having Madeleine Albright come to Burundi and make her own assessment.

Asked if Burundi's suggestions for a changed venue and a broadened negotiation team had been formally requested, Mr. Rukingama said the views had been made known. Further asked if other leaders would be approached for the extended negotiating team, Mr. Rukingama said there were so many people involved in the Burundi peace process, including special envoys from the European countries, the United States, South Africa and other areas that the framework already existed for appointing people.

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