SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES 2 NOVEMBER BURUNDI AGREEMENT AIMED AT SETTLING POLITICAL, POWER-SHARING ISSUES

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES 2 NOVEMBER BURUNDI AGREEMENT

AIMED AT SETTLING POLITICAL, POWER-SHARING ISSUES

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the Pretoria Protocol on Outstanding Political, Defence and Security Power-sharing Issues, signed on 2 November between the Transitional Government of Burundi and the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie/Force pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD/FDD).  He commends President Domitien Ndayizeye and Mr. Nkurunziza for their commitment to peace and reconciliation in Burundi and calls on them to ensure full implementation of the Protocol in accordance with the agreed timetable.

The Secretary-General expresses his appreciation to President Mbeki, the Facilitation, and the Regional Initiative for their untiring efforts that made this agreement possible.  He also reiterates his call on the Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu-Forces nationales de libération  (PALIPEHUTU-FNL-Agathon Rwasa) to join the peace process without delay.

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