Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
23 October 2002
Deputy President Jacob Zuma arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Monday afternoon to facilitate ceasefire negotiations between the transitional government of Burundi and armed opposition movements.
Today, Wednesday 23 October 2002, the Deputy President met with President Benjamin Mkapa of the United Republic of Tanzania for a consultation on the process of negotiations.
Yesterday, Tuesday, 22 October 2002, Deputy President Zuma met with a delegation of the Palipehutu-FNL led by its Vice President Jean-Bosco Sindayigaya. Discussions with the full Palipehutu/FNL delegation will take place tomorrow afternoon (24 October), after all members of the delegation have arrived in Dar es Salaam.
Ongoing preparatory consultations are taking place at a technical level between officials of the facilitation team and representatives of the Palipehutu/Forces for National Liberation of Rwasa Agathon and the National Council for the Defence of Democracy/Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) of Pierre Nkurunziza.
A formal meeting with the CNDD-FDD is scheduled for Saturday, 26 October 2002.
The Regional Summit of the Great Lakes Heads of State on Burundi, which met on 7 October 2002 in Tanzania, directed that the CNDD-FDD and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL should enter immediately into negotiations with the Transitional Government of Burundi with a view to conclude a ceasefire agreement within 30 days.
The Heads of State also resolved to meet after 30 days to review the situation, and decided that if no ceasefire agreement has been reached between the parties during that period, they would take appropriate measures against the recalcitrant party with a view to restore peace and stability in Burundi, and ensuring the full implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement.
Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda, spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 09255 744894838.