parties in Tanzania
16 June 2006
Pretoria - President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Aziz Pahad, will on Saturday, 17 June 2006, depart for Dar-es-Salaam,
Tanzania, where he will join regional leaders in witnessing the signing of an
agreement on political and military principles between the government of
Burundi and the Palipehutu/FNL scheduled for the same day.
President Mbeki will join Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzanian
President Jakaya Kikwete as Chair and Deputy Chair of the regional initiative
of the Burundi peace process respectively. These leaders will also be joined by
Facilitator of the Burundi peace process Minister Charles Nqakula and
representatives of the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN).
The signing of the agreement will pave the way for the Palipehutu/FNL to
return to Burundi as a political party where it will join other role players in
the processes of post conflict reconstruction and development in the
country.
The signing of this agreement also represents the culmination of the process
following a request by the leadership of the East African region of the AU for
South Africa to continue with mediation efforts in Burundi and the subsequent
appointment by President Thabo Mbeki of Minister Charles Nqakula as Facilitator
of the Burundi peace process.
President Mbeki will return to South Africa on Saturday, 17 June 2006, ahead
of his scheduled visit to Sudan supported by Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on Tuesday, 20 June 2006.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
16 June 2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)
