PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S PRINCIPAL DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR BURUNDI

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S PRINCIPAL DEPUTY

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR BURUNDI

Its first 100 days in power were going to be a real test for the credibility of the new Government in Burundi, Nureldin Satti, the Secretary-General’s Principal Deputy Special Representative for that country, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Updating the press on the political situation in Burundi following his briefing to the Security Council this morning, he said that Pierre Nkurunziza, Burundi’s first democratically-elected President since the assassination of its last democratically-elected President and the start of Burundi’s civil war in 1993, had been sworn in on 26 August.

Yesterday, the new President had designated Martin Nduwimana and Alice Nzomukunda as the country’s two Vice-Presidents, he said.  Dr. Nduwimana represents a Tutsi party -- Union for National Progress (Uprona), and Ms. Nzomukunda belongs to the President’s own party -- the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).  The Cabinet was expected to be formed today or tomorrow.

The country’s population had high expectations for the new Government, Mr. Satti continued.  The fact that people had voted for the CNDD-FDD -- a former rebel movement -- showed the will for change in Burundi.  The people wanted to see an improvement in their quality of life and a socio-economic recovery of the country.

Among the main challenges facing Burundi immediately following the formation of the new Government, he listed poverty and the consequences of the social and political strife that had engulfed the country for the past four decades.  It was important to confront the issue of unemployment, which made the youth of many African countries receptive to calls for rebellion or taking up arms.

The new Government also had a responsibility to deal with impunity and establish truth and reconciliation mechanisms, he said.  Many tragic events had taken place in Burundi over the years, including massacres and military coups.  While many people had been accused of such crimes against humanity as genocide and mass murders, nobody had been taken to court so far.  Actually, the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement of 28 August 2000 stipulated that the issues of putting an end to impunity and establishing mechanisms for truth and reconciliation should go hand in hand.  Linked to those were the issues of law and order, democracy and respect for human rights.  It was also important to finalize the integration of the army and the police force.

Having played a major role in helping Burundi’s peace process, the international community was called upon to remain committed to its role by providing support and assistance to the country, he added.  For that reason, consultations were under way between the Government of Burundi, the United Nations and other international partners on the possibility of putting in place a follow-up mechanism, which would assist the country in tackling its main challenges.  The Secretary-General was expected to chair a “mini-summit” on Burundi on 13 September.  The event would be co-chaired by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Chairman of the regional initiative on Burundi.

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For information media • not an official record