Security Council welcomes 'positive development' in Burundi

The members of the United Nations Security Council today welcomed the positive steps recently underway to advance the peace process in Burundi and further encouraged the political actors and armed groups there to opt for dialogue and to eschew violence.

In a statement to the press following the 15-nation body's consultations on Burundi, the Council's President, Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, said members welcomed "positive developments" in Burundi and supported the proposed Regional Summit. They urged all Burundian parties to cooperate fully with the region and the Facilitation with a view to reaching agreement on all outstanding issues.

"Council members urge Agathon Rwasa's Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL) to cease hostilities, to join immediately the peace process and to start negotiations with the transitional government," Ambassador Akram said.

Council members also welcomed the deployment of the African Mission in Burundi, and appealed to donor countries to make resources available for its deployment and future support. That Mission is the first such peacekeeping initiative deployed under the auspices of the African Union (AU).

Ambassador Akram said Council members supported the round-table conference planned for next month to mobilize financial resources for Burundi, and urged donors to respond generously, adding that they also commended the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for their timely decision to release the second tranche of their respective post-conflict programmes for Burundi.

"[They] also recognize the work done by the United Nations Office in Burundi in the framework of the peace process in that country," the Council President said.