SC/8818
AFR/1424
28 August 2006
Security Council Press Statement on Burundi
NEW YORK, 25 August (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement to the press was made today by Security Council President Nana Effah-Appenteng (Ghana):
The members of the Security Council heard a briefing from the acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, M. Nureldin Satti, on the situation in Burundi and on the setting up of a United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), from the beginning of next year, recommended by the Secretary-General in an addendum to his seventh report on the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB). They noted that the proposed establishment of BINUB is based on the United Nations Common Action Plan, agreed with the Government of Burundi last July.
The members of the Security Council expressed their serious concerns about the reports of a possible coup attempt in Burundi and the subsequent arrests of political leaders. They encouraged the Government to follow due process during its investigations surrounding these events. They called on the Government and all parties in Burundi to preserve peace and national reconciliation and to promote social concord in their country.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for the efforts of the Regional Peace Initiative on Burundi and the South-African Facilitation to broker a peace agreement between the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu-Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL). They took note of the progress made so far and urged both parties to conclude the discussions expeditiously. For that purpose, they looked forward to the holding of a summit in Dar es Salaam by the Regional Initiative.
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