UN representative hails progress in Burundi's post-conflict talks

The top United Nations envoy for Burundi today hailed progress made during two days of talks in South Africa on forming a multi-party, power-sharing government at the end of the transitional political period, which followed a decade of civil conflict in the Great Lakes nation.

Returning to the Burundian capital of Bujumbura from the talks in Pretoria, Carolyn McAskie commended the advancement in the negotiations among 31 Burundian political parties on 4 and 5 August and hailed "the tireless efforts" exerted by South African President Thabo Mbeki and by the Facilitator, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, to narrow the gap between the parties.

She also urged "all concerned Burundian parties to redouble their efforts to reach the required consensus around that agreement in the coming few days."

The UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) would continue to lend the mandated support for the successful conclusion of the transitional post-conflict period and the return of peace and stability to Burundi, she said in a statement.

At a news conference last Friday, the chief of ONUB's Electoral Division, Ahmedou El Becaye Seck, said he had 125 experts advising Burundians on the expected elections.

In May the UN Security Council approved an ONUB mandate which included contributing to the successful completion of free, transparent and peaceful elections, as stipulated in the August 2000 Arusha Agreement.