23 September 2002
The Burundi cease-fire negotiations between the Transitional Government and armed political movements are continuing in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Today, Monday, 23 September 2002, negotiations began between the delegation of the Transitional Government of Burundi, and the delegation of the Palipehutu Forces for National Liberation (Palipehutu FNL). Both parties have expressed their commitment to meaningful and fruitful negotiations and we anticipate a positive outcome this week.
The discussions between Transitional Government and the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) of Peter Nkurunziza ended yesterday, Sunday, 22 September, without actual cease-fire negotiations having taken place, and without any agreement being reached.
The talks had been delayed by two days on Thursday and Friday as the CNDD-FDD had informed the Facilitator that its movement had declared two days of mourning because of the killing of more than 170 people in Burundi on 9 September, Saturday and Sunday, the two days left of the four days allocated to CNDD-FDD/Government discussions were spent in consultations with the two parties to address demands raised by the CNDD-FDD.
These entailed in the main that a "Declaration of Commitment to Negotiate" be signed by the two parties, which could identify the "fully-fledged belligerents" in the Burundi war, and commit the belligerents to implementing the cease-fire agreement that would be signed at the conclusion of the talks.
According to the CNDD-FDD Nkurunziza position, the Transitional Government delegation would be recognised as fully-fledged belligerent if:
The movement also required a definition of the Burundi war.
The two parties could not reach agreement on the contents and process of the declaration, with the government emphasising the need to concentrate on negotiating the actual cease-fire agreement and not the "Declaration of Commitment to Negotiate", and the CNDD-FDD insisting that they would not take part in actual cease-fire talks until their requirements were met.
While yesterday was officially the last day for the CNDD-FDD to enter into cease-fire negotiations according to the schedule of the talks, I would like to emphasise that the door is still open, until the 7th of October, when the last Summit of the Great Lakes Regional Initiative on Burundi will take place in Arusha, Tanzania. Until then, we will continue to do everything in our power to get the two sides to begin actual cease-fire talks and reach an agreement before the deadline.
In the meantime, we wish the Transitional Government delegation and the Palipehutu FNL well as they begin their first round of talks today. They owe it to the Burundi people to reach an agreement that will enhance the prospects for peace and stability in Burundi.
I have extended my stay in Tanzania until the end of the week to assist the two parties to discuss and find a solution.
Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda on +255744 894 838
Issued by HE Jacob G Zuma, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa,
Facilitator/Chairperson of the Burundi Cease-fire Negotiations, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania