Security Council condemns violence 13/04/01

The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the continuing violence in Burundi and called on all sides to stop the fighting and hold talks. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Council’s current president, UK Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, members called on the signatories to the Arusha peace agreement to “refrain from any action that might compromise the progress already made, and might contribute to a further deterioration of the situation on the ground, which remains quite worrying”. The statement also urged the armed rebel groups who have not signed the accord to stop the violence “and pursue a dialogue aimed at a cessation of hostilities”. In what Greenstock described as “an important ancillary point to our appeal,” Council members encouraged regional leaders and the signatories themselves to “back up this message to the armed rebel groups to put down their weapons and enter the process of dialogue.” In addition, members of the Council condemned the recent acts of violence that had occurred on the ground in Burundi, including attacks on humanitarian workers and convoys. The parties were urged to observe international humanitarian law, to allow humanitarian workers access to those in need of assistance, and to refrain “from the kind of nasty attacks that we have witnessed in recent days”. Greenstock also expressed strong support for the facilitator of the Burundi peace process, former South African president Nelson Mandela, and for the efforts of regional leaders, particularly the governments of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to support Mandela’s activities.