CNDD-FDD wants direct talks with government

One of the most sensitive issues, that of army reform, is under discussion by Committee Three on "peace and security for all". However, the major armed rebel faction Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD), which is excluded from Arusha has called for direct talks with the government on the issue. In a statement received by IRIN on Wednesday, CNDD-FDD proposed that once the army question was resolved and peace re-established, the Arusha process should move to Burundi so that all sectors of society could be involved in debating the nation's future. The statement, signed by CNDD-FDD leader Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, warned the facilitators that unless the group was involved in the peace process it would not take responsibility for the consequences "both foreseen and unforeseen". Burundian Transport Minister Denis Nshiririmana, who is taking part in the talks, told Burundi radio on Tuesday that "methodological problems" were hampering the work of the second committee [good governance and democracy] as well as the third. "Not much was achieved last week," he admitted.