South African President Thabo Mbeki will join former president and mediator Nelson Mandela in Arusha, Tanzania, for peace talks on the Burundian conflict.
Presidential spokesman, Parks Mankahlana, told IRIN on Friday that Mbeki's participation was in support of Mandela's mediation efforts. "We are giving substantial support to the peace process in Burundi. It shows the interest we have," Mankahlana said.
Mandela has also invited regional heads of state and world leaders such as US President Bill Clinton and French President, Jacques Chirac, to the peace talks. Media reports said this week that Clinton and Chirac would most likely address the talks via a video conference system.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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