Security Council condemns violence

The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned the ongoing hostilities in Burundi calling on all parties to the conflict to cease their military activities and to cooperate with the Burundi talks facilitator, Nelson Mandela. The Council held informal consultations on Burundi and heard a briefing by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast on the situation in the country, as well as recent developments in the Arusha peace process. The current president of the Council, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France, said that members of the Council “condemn the continued violence and call on all armed groups to cease their military action and join the political process”. Members of the Council noted the efforts of the Burundi government in the peace process and welcomed, in particular, the commitments expressed by Burundi’s President Pierre Buyoya on the dismantling of regroupment camps and on the composition of the national armed forces. They encouraged the president to continue his efforts and welcomed the closure of some regroupment camps, expressing the expectation that the government would complete the process. They called on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and to allow access for relief aid. The Council called on donors to “resume substantial economic and social development assistance to Burundi with regard to security conditions”. They also welcomed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s new representative in Burundi, Jean Arnault, and expressed their support for his efforts.