Mr. President,
I thank you for the opportunity to participate in today’s meeting on Burundi in my capacity as the Chair of the Burundi country-specific configuration of the Peace Building Commission. The close collaboration between the Security Council and the Peace Building Commission is essential. Not least is that so in the case of Burundi, a country that now seems to be on the right track towards consolidation of peace, but is situated in a very volatile region, and which needs the sustained support of the international community to prevent it from relapsing into armed conflict. The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo - massacres and ethnic tension - can easily spill over into neighbouring countries with similar experiences of the past. At the same time, peace and stability in Burundi is a key building block for peace and stability in the region as a whole.
The implementation of the Cease-fire Agreement is a first crucial step for effective peacebuilding to take place in Burundi. In late October, I had the opportunity to visit Burundi to discuss with Burundians about their priorities among the many priorities for peace-building. There was no doubt, peace and security was referred to as the number one priority. For example, I met with women’s groups at the outskirts of Bujumbura who had suffered badly from war and lack of security, and now struggled to make a decent living for themselves and their children. Their first wish was for the Cease-fire Agreement between the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu-FNL to be fully implemented. They needed security to move on with their lives and to believe in the future. So to hear about the breakthrough last week in the talks between the Government and the Palipehutu-FNL, was indeed very good news.
We commend the leaders of the Regional Initiative and the South African facilitator for having brought about this breakthrough. We also congratulate the Government of Burundi and Palipehutu-FNL for having shown the necessary flexibility. The Declaration signed last week should bring an end to the conflict, giving Palipehutu-FNL the opportunity to enter political life in Burundi as a political party under a new name, and to be integrated into the state institutions.
The agreement is a window of opportunity for Burundi and for the region. We now need to support the Burundians to ensure that this time around the agreement can be fully implemented. If we fail to do so, and allow things to fall apart, the consequences for Burundi and the region could be devastating. With this in mind, the African Union and the Regional Initiative should be encouraged to remain fully engaged and continue to play their important role as guarantors of the peace process as long as necessary.
The Strategic Framework of the PBC for Burundi, as well as the conclusions in the bi-annual review from June this year, provide a strong call for PBC support to the peace process and the implementation of the Cease-fire Agreement. The PBC will hold a country-specific meeting on Burundi tomorrow. The purpose is to hear from the regional actors, the Burundian Government, the United Nations and other interested parties about the most urgent needs with regard to the implementation of the cease-fire and to call for international political and financial support to address those needs.
The Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration process urgently has to move on, and with speed. The PBC has been supportive in ensuring that there is an immediate World Bank programme in place and ready to deliver. Further support need to be mobilized for other priorities, including for the process to transform the FNL-Palipehutu into a political party ready to participate in the elections of 2010, and for the regional engagement to remain on the ground.
The international involvement, in particular through the African Union and the Regional Initiative, will continue to be crucial to ensure the right conditions for the implementation of the DDR-process and other aspects of the Cease-fire agreement. A sense of security and trust between the parties will be needed for a successful conclusion of the DDR. Mutual trust as well as confidence in the institutions of the state will also be necessary to prepare for the electoral process. It is of utmost importance that the process culminating in the elections in 2010 is considered to be free and fair. This will be an important test for the peacebuilding in Burundi. The PBC, the United Nations and the international community must stand ready to support Burundi in this process.
Peacebuilding in Burundi is a long term partnership for peace and development. It requires sustained resources and capacity, as well as coordination. The implementation of the Cease-fire Agreement will provide the conditions needed to move ahead with the priorities of the PBC Strategic Framework, including security, justice and the rule of law, land reform, socio-economic recovery and gender issues.
The PBC bi-annual review in January 2009 will provide an opportunity to review progress in these areas and to call for further international support and attention, where needed. Our joint efforts to consolidate peace in Burundi will lay the foundation for full scale implementation of the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy for long term development to the benefit of all Burundians.
In conclusion, allow me to commend the Government of Burundi and all actors involved for their constructive engagement and their commitment to peace in Burundi. Let me use this occasion to thank BINUB for cooperating with the Peacebuilding Commission and the Government so ably in this regard. BINUB is very important for the PBC and the broader peacebuilding efforts. Further enhancing the integrated structure of BINUB and the UN Country Team under the continued strategic leadership of the Executive Representative of Secretary General will be necessary for effective UN support to peacebuilding in Burundi. The Peacebuilding Commission in New York will not be able to prove its relevance without effective coordination and involvement of all stakeholders on the ground in Bujumbura.
Thank you.