Process, Charles Nqakula on the meeting of the Regional Technical Committee
meeting held in Pretoria
12 October 2007
Pretoria - The facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process Honourable Minister
Charles Nqakula convened today, 12 October 2007 an urgent meeting of the
Regional Technical Committee to deal with matters that are threatening the
project to find durable peace for Burundi. The Regional Technical Committee is
comprised of representatives from Uganda, whose President chairs the Regional
Initiative, Tanzania, the President of which is the Deputy Chairperson, and
South Africa, the facilitating country.
The issues that were discussed in the meeting include the following:
* The walkout by the Palipehutu-FNL, the last rebel movement in Burundi not
to participate in the peace process, from the Joint Verification and Monitoring
Mechanism (JVMM). The JVMM is the vehicle established by the Regional
Initiative for the implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement
(CFA)
* the split within the Palipehutu-FNL that has resulted in hundreds of FNL
combatants abandoning their positions and seeking shelter, food, medical
support and protection from the Facilitation.
The Chairperson of the Regional Initiative, President Yoweri Museveni of
Uganda has instructed the Facilitator immediately to create Assembly Areas for
the armed combatants who have left Palipehutu-FNL positions.
The meeting decided, therefore, to make a further call to the Palipehutu-FNL
to rejoin the JVMM for a meeting in Bujumbura on 20 October 2007 to resume the
implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.
The facilitator will address a media briefing on Monday, 15 October 2007 at
14h00 at the Union Buildings.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 October 2007
