IMC adopts draft rules of procedure

The first substantive meeting of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) following up the Arusha peace agreement on Burundi concluded its meeting at the weekend with the adoption of draft rules of procedure. “This is a very big step because it means members now know where they are, and where they are going to,” a diplomatic source told IRIN on Monday. However, work on other agenda items, such as the nomination of representatives to the executive council and drawing up of the implementation timetable, were not concluded. “The council members, if elected, are suppose to work in Bujumbura,” the source explained. “This would not be possible for the ‘exiled leaders’ because, so far, no appropriate security measures have been taken in the [Burundi] capital to ensure their protection. Protection for the exiled leaders is provided for in the Burundi peace agreement, but it has not been implemented yet.” The IMC comprises 29 members, 19 from Burundi parties signatories of the accord, six members from civil society and one representative each from the UN, OAU, the Great Lakes region and the donor community. It is chaired by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative to the Great Lakes region, Ambassador Berhanu Dinka.