Note to Correspondents

UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN BURUNDI PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION OPENS AT HEADQUARTERS

A photographic exhibition entitled “Burundi:  From Conflict to Peacebuilding” will open in the South Gallery of the General Assembly Visitors’ Lobby on Thursday, 18 January, at 5 p.m.

The exhibit will be opened by Paula Refolo, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Public Information.  Statements will be made by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Joseph Ntakirutimana, Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations and Carolyn McAskie, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support and the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi.

The exhibition features a collection of photographs highlighting the achievements of the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB) during its two-and-half-year presence in Burundi (June 2004–December 2006).  The Mission completed its mandate on 31 December 2006, having overseen the first democratic elections in 12 years; the installation of a national Government; and the disarmament and demobilization of nearly 22,000 combatants.  The photographs were shot by ONUB mission photographers.  Most of the pictures are by Martine Perret, who was a United Nations Volunteer with the mission and is now with the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) as the photographer.

This exhibit was produced and organized by the Peace and Security Section of the United Nations Department of Public Information in collaboration with the African Division of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  It will remain on display through 16 February 2007.

For more information on United Nations exhibitions, call Jan Arnesen at tel.:  212 963 8531 or Liza Wichmann at tel.:  212 963 0089.

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For information media • not an official record