Burundi should be helped in emerging from ethnic strife, regional summit at UN says

Taking advantage of the World Summit at the United Nations, a regional summit of leaders of the countries neighbouring Burundi joined Secretary-General Kofi Annan and international donors in reviewing the country's progress in consolidating peace after years of ethnic strife and agreed, in principle, on a forum to provide economic and political assistance.

In a declaration issued yesterday, the regional summit said it recognized that the Government of Burundi "will continue to seek a substantial, coordinated and sustained level of development and political support from the African Union (AU), the Region, the United Nations and the international donors in the crucial post-transition period."

"It affirmed the need to support the Government as it addresses the challenges ahead, while noting the importance of reinforcing bilateral and multilateral assistance," it said.

In this regard, the group agreed, in principle, to establish a forum of Burundi's partners to support the Government's efforts. "The mandate and composition of such a forum will be further elaborated in consultation with the Government of Burundi," the declaration said.

On the consolidation of peace, the summit called on the Palipehutu-FNL "to cease hostilities immediately" and requested support for the Government in its efforts to bring the FNL into the peace process without further delay.

The group comprised President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, as chairman of the Great Lakes Regional Peace Initiative on Burundi, along with the heads of State or government of Tanzania, South Africa, Gabon, Kenya, Zambia and Ethiopia.

Senior officials represented Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United States, Britain, the AU Commission and the European Commission.