SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN BURUNDI

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN BURUNDI

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

At the nineteenth Summit of the Regional Initiative, which was held on 1 and 2 December in Arusha, the Transitional Government of Burundi and the Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie-Forces pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD) concluded a ceasefire agreement.  The agreement constitutes an important and positive development in the search for a comprehensive peace in Burundi.

The Secretary-General welcomes this very important step ahead and commends the efforts of the Regional Initiative and the facilitation led by Deputy President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in helping the Burundi parties reach this agreement.  He encourages the parties to abide by their commitments and implement the agreement fully.

The United Nations will continue to support the efforts of the Burundi parties to implement the Arusha Agreement through its office in Burundi and its Chairmanship of the Implementation Monitoring Committee.

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