SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES PRESTIGE AND AUTHORITY OF NELSON MANDELA WILL LEAD TO REINVIGORATION OF BURUNDI PEACE PROCESS

Press Release
SG/SM/7244
AFR/194

SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES PRESTIGE AND AUTHORITY OF NELSON MANDELA WILL LEAD TO REINVIGORATION OF BURUNDI PEACE PROCESS

Designation as Mediator, After Death of Julius Nyerere, Is Welcomed; Urgent Need for Negotiated Settlement Stressed

This is the text of a statement today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the designation by the eighth Arusha Regional Summit on Burundi of Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa, as the new Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process. He hopes that the prestige and authority of Mr. Mandela will reinvigorate the process in Arusha after the death of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

In view of the current political and security situation prevailing in Burundi, the Secretary-General views the designation of Mr. Mandela as a timely decision on the part of the regional leaders and joins in their call on all the Burundi parties to extend maximum cooperation to the new Facilitator towards the successful and urgent conclusion of the peace negotiations.

The Secretary-General reiterates his view that there is no alternative to a negotiated settlement to the Burundi conflict, and he pledges the full support of the United Nations for the new Facilitator.

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