SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECLARATION OF SUMMIT ON BURUNDI PEACE PROCESS, CALLS

ON PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH ‘URGENCY AND DETERMINATION’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of the Declaration of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Great Lakes Region on the Burundi Peace Process, convened by the Chairperson of the Regional Initiative, His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, in Bujumbura on 4 December 2008.

The Secretary-General is very encouraged by the outcome of the summit.  He calls on the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu-FNL to implement their agreements and the steps outlined in the summit declaration in good faith, in full and with a sense of urgency and determination, so as to bring this last phase of the peace process to a successful conclusion.

The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to the leaders of the Regional Initiative for the Burundi Peace Process, the South African Facilitation and the African Union for their tireless efforts to help the Burundian people in their quest for durable peace, and encourages them to remain actively engaged in support of the full implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.

The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to continue its support for the peace process, in full coordination with regional and international partners, and to work with these partners in support of Burundi’s peace and development agenda.

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For information media • not an official record