Burundi negotiators moving towards peace

The four committees which met in Arusha as part of the Burundi peace process from 11-22 May achieved "appreciable" progress, according to the Nyerere Foundation which is facilitating the talks. In a press release received by IRIN, former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere urged delegates "to continue in the same spirit" during the next session, due in July. "The talks are progressing in the right direction. Committees were able to discuss and finish certain agendas and pick up new ones," Nyerere Foundation spokesman Hashim Mbita told IRIN on Thursday. Meanwhile, donors have contributed more than US $6 million towards the facilitation of the Burundi peace talks, a press release from the Nyerere Foundation said. About 21 countries and aid agencies have been contributing since 1996. Mbita told IRIN there had been general concern that the patience of donors "cannot be overstretched". "So far, they have shown us goodwill," Mbita said. He said this could be attributed to the "seriousness and determination" the groups have shown