Burundi: Security Council urges end to fighting, calls for ceasefire accord

The United Nations Security Council today appealed to the armed groups in Burundi to stop fighting immediately and called on them to quickly negotiate a ceasefire agreement.

The Council President, Ambassador John Negroponte of the United States, said in a press statement that the members urged the belligerents who were meeting in Dar es Salaam to negotiate in good faith a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible.

Ambassador Negroponte said Council members also expressed their concern over the security situation and urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law. "We call upon all parties to permit the safe and voluntary return of refugees and to provide them with access to humanitarian assistance," he said.

Members also called on all Burundian parties to implement the Arusha agreement as the agreed upon framework for peaceful political reconciliation, Ambassador Negroponte said, adding that they urged international donors to support the peace process, including through budgetary assistance to enable Burundi to cope with the "exceptional situation" so that the benefits of the Arusha agreement were not lost.

Earlier Wednesday, the Council heard an update from UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh on the political, security and humanitarian situation in Burundi.