PRESS STATEMENT ON BURUNDI BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on Burundi by Security Council President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile):

Members of the Security Council welcomed the discussions held from 18 to 21 January 2004, in Oisterwijk, Netherlands, between the President of the Burundian Republic, Mr Ndayizéyé, and a delegation of the Forces nationales de libération (Palipehutu-FNL).

They welcomed the role played by the Dutch Government, which facilitated this meeting and expressed its availability to assist the two parties.

They reaffirmed their concern for the continuing fighting, stressed that there cannot be any military solution and urged all the Burundian parties to exercise restraint.

They took noteof the final communiqué signed by the parties and encouraged them to continue their discussions with a view to a complete cessation of hostilities and to Palipehutu-FNL entering the transitional institutions.

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