Security Council resolution 1286 (2000) [on the situation in Burundi]
[Situation in Burundi]
Symbol: S/RES/1286(2000)
Date: 2000-01-19
Meeting record: S/PV.4091
Subjects: Mandela, Nelson|Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process|UN. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region|UNICEF|World Food Programme|Regional Summit on Burundi (8th : 1999 : Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania)|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|INTERNAL SECURITY|POLITICAL VIOLENCE|HOMICIDE|BURUNDI|BURUNDI SITUATION|STAFF SECURITY|NEGOTIATION|FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING|HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS|CIVILIAN PERSONS
Summary: Warmly endorses and strongly supports the designation by the 8th Arusha Regional Summit on 1 Dec. 1999 of Nelson Mandela as the new Facilitator of the Arusha peace process; reiterates its strong support for the renewed Arusha peace process; endorses efforts by the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the UN in Burundi and in particular the continued work of his Special Representative for the Great Lakes region; expresses appreciation for international donor support; condemns continuing violence perpetrated by all parties, and in particular by those non-State actors who refuse to participate in the Arusha peace process; condemns attacks against civilians in Burundi; strongly condemns the murder of UNICEF and World Food Programme personnel and Burundian civilians in Rutana province in Oct. 1999; calls for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian workers and human rights observers to all regroupment camps, and calls for internees to have access to their livelihoods outside these camps; calls for donors to provide humanitarian and human rights assistance to Burundi and to resume substantial economic and development assistance with due regard to security conditions.

UNITED
NATIONS                                                                       S
                 Security Council
                                                               Distr.
                                                               GENERAL

                                                               S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                               19 January 2000




                               RESOLUTION 1286 (2000)

               Adopted by the Security Council at its 4091st meeting,
                                 on 19 January 2000


     The Security Council,

     Reaffirming its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the
situation in Burundi,

     Expressing concern at the dire economic, humanitarian and social conditions
in Burundi,

     Expressing deep concern at the ongoing violence and insecurity in Burundi
marked by increased attacks by armed groups on the civilian population in and
around the capital,

     Noting with concern the implications of the situation in Burundi for the
region as well as the consequences for Burundi of continued regional
instability,

     Recognizing the important role of the States of the region, in particular
Tanzania, which is host to hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees and home
to the Julius Nyerere Foundation, which has provided outstanding support to the
talks,

     Noting that the United Nations agencies, regional and non-governmental
organizations, in cooperation with host Governments, are making use of the
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (E/bkc
CN.4/1998/53 and Add.1-2), inter alia, in Africa,

     Welcoming the human rights programme undertaken by the United Nations and
the cooperation afforded to it by the Government of Burundi and political
parties in Burundi,

     Reaffirming that the renewed Arusha peace process represents the most
viable basis for a resolution of the conflict together with the continued
efforts to build an internal political partnership in Burundi,


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S/RES/1286 (2000)
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     1.   Warmly endorses and strongly supports the designation by the Eighth
Arusha Regional Summit on 1 December 1999 of Nelson Mandela, former President of
the Republic of South Africa, as the new Facilitator of the Arusha peace
process, successor to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, expresses its strongest
support for his efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in
Burundi, and welcomes the successful meeting in Arusha on 16 January 2000
launching his initiative;

     2.   Reiterates its strong support for the renewed Arusha peace process,
endorses the call at the Eighth Arusha Regional Summit for all parties to the
conflict in Burundi to extend maximum cooperation to the new peace process
Facilitator, and calls for increased efforts to build an internal political
partnership in Burundi;

     3.   Endorses efforts by the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the
United Nations in Burundi, and in particular the continued work of his Special
Representative for the Great Lakes region;

     4.   Commends those Burundian parties, including the Government, that have
demonstrated their commitment to continue negotiations, and calls on all parties
that remain outside the Arusha peace process to cease hostilities and to
participate fully in that process;

     5.   Expresses appreciation for international donor support, and appeals
for increased assistance for the Arusha peace process;

     6.   Condemns continuing violence perpetrated by all parties, and in
particular by those non-State actors who refuse to participate in the Arusha
peace process, and strongly urges all parties to end the ongoing armed conflict
and to resolve their differences peacefully;

     7.   Condemns attacks against civilians in Burundi, and calls for an
immediate end to these criminal acts;

     8.   Strongly condemns the murder of United Nations Children’s Fund and
World Food Programme personnel and Burundian civilians in Rutana province in
October 1999, and urges that the perpetrators be effectively brought to justice;

     9.   Calls for all parties to ensure the safe and unhindered access of
humanitarian assistance to those in need in Burundi, and to guarantee fully the
safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated
personnel;

     10. Calls for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered access of
humanitarian workers and human rights observers to all regroupment camps, and
calls for internees to have access to their livelihoods outside these camps;

     11. Encourages further progress between the United Nations and the
Government of Burundi and political parties in Burundi in establishing
appropriate security guarantees for United Nations humanitarian agencies to
resume field operations;


                                                                              /...

                                                              S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                              Page 3




     12. Calls upon neighbouring States, where appropriate, to take measures to
halt cross-border insurgent activity, and the illicit flow of arms and
ammunition, and to ensure the neutrality, security, and civilian character of
refugee camps;

     13. Calls for donors to provide humanitarian and human rights assistance
to Burundi and to resume substantial economic and development assistance with
due regard to security conditions;

     14. Urges the international community to examine the economic development
needs of Burundi with a view to establishing stable long-term conditions for the
well-being of the Burundian people and for the return of refugees;

     15.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.


                                      -----

Texto español (official Spanish version): NACIONES
UNIDAS
                                                                            S
                 Consejo de Seguridad
                                                   Distr.
                                                   GENERAL

                                                   S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                   19 de enero de 2000




                                RESOLUCIÓN 1286 (2000)

               Aprobada por el Consejo de Seguridad en su 4091ª sesión
                           celebrada el 19 de enero de 2000


     El Consejo de Seguridad,

     Reafirmando sus resoluciones y las declaraciones de su Presidente
anteriores relativas a Burundi,

     Expresando preocupación por las graves condiciones económicas, humanitarias
y sociales reinantes en Burundi,

     Expresando su profunda preocupación por la violencia e inseguridad actuales
en Burundi, que se caracterizan por el aumento de los ataques de grupos armados
contra la población civil en la capital y sus alrededores,

     Observando con preocupación las repercusiones de la situación en Burundi
para la región así como las consecuencias para Burundi de la permanente
inestabilidad en la región,

     Reconociendo la importante función de los Estados de la región,
especialmente Tanzanía que acoge a cientos de miles de refugiados de Burundi y
es sede de la Fundación Julius Nyerere, cuyo apoyo a las conversaciones ha sido
extraordinario,

     Observando que los organismos de las Naciones Unidas y las organizaciones
regionales y no gubernamentales, en cooperación con los gobiernos anfitriones,
están aplicando en África, entre otros lugares, los Principios rectores
aplicables a los desplazados internos (E/CN.4/1998/53 y Add.1 y 2),

     Acogiendo con beneplácito el programa de derechos humanos iniciado por las
Naciones Unidas y la cooperación prestada por el Gobierno y los partidos
políticos de Burundi,




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S/RES/1286 (2000)
Página 2


     Reafirmando que la reanudación del proceso de paz de Arusha constituye la
base más viable para la solución del conflicto conjuntamente con la continuación
de las gestiones encaminadas a crear una alianza política interna en Burundi,

     1.   Acoge con gran satisfacción y apoya decididamente la designación, el
1º de diciembre de 1999, por la Octava Cumbre Regional de Arusha, de Nelson
Mandela, ex Presidente de la República de Sudáfrica, como nuevo Facilitador del
proceso de paz de Arusha, y sucesor del fallecido Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,
expresa su más firme apoyo a sus gestiones para alcanzar una solución pacífica
del conflicto de Burundi, y acoge complacido el éxito de la reunión que celebró
en Arusha el 16 de enero de 2000 para lanzar su iniciativa;

     2.   Reitera su firme apoyo a la reanudación del proceso de paz de Arusha,
hace suyo el llamamiento formulado en la Octava Cumbre Regional de Arusha para
que todas las partes en el conflicto de Burundi presten la máxima cooperación al
nuevo Facilitador del proceso de paz, e insta a redoblar los esfuerzos para
crear una alianza política interna en Burundi;

     3.   Hace suyos los esfuerzos del Secretario General encaminados a mejorar
la función de las Naciones Unidas en Burundi y, en particular, la labor
permanente de su Representante Especial para la región de los Grandes Lagos;

     4.   Encomia a las partes de Burundi, incluido el Gobierno, que han
demostrado su determinación de proseguir las negociaciones, e insta a todas las
partes que se mantienen al margen del proceso de paz de Arusha a poner fin a las
hostilidades y participar plenamente en ese proceso;

     5.   Expresa su reconocimiento por el apoyo de los donantes
internacionales, y hace un llamamiento para que se aumente la asistencia para el
proceso de paz de Arusha;

     6.   Condena los constantes actos de violencia perpetrados por todas las
partes, y en particular por los sectores no estatales que se niegan a participar
en el proceso de paz de Arusha, e insta enérgicamente a todas las partes a poner
fin al conflicto armado en curso y a resolver las diferencias de manera
pacífica;

     7.   Condena los ataques perpetrados contra civiles en Burundi, y pide que
se ponga fin de inmediato a esos actos criminales;

     8.   Condena enérgicamente el asesinato de trabajadores del Fondo de las
Naciones Unidas para la Infancia y el Programa Mundial de Alimentos y de civiles
de Burundi en la provincia de Rutana en octubre de 1999, e insta a que se
capture y enjuicie efectivamente a los culpables;

     9.   Pide a todas las partes que garanticen el acceso seguro y sin trabas
de la asistencia humanitaria a las personas que la necesiten en Burundi, y que
garanticen plenamente la seguridad y la libertad de circulación del personal de
las Naciones Unidas y del personal asociado;

     10. Pide que los trabajadores humanitarios y los observadores de derechos
humanos tengan acceso inmediato, completo, en condiciones de seguridad y sin
trabas a todos los campamentos de reagrupación, y pide que las personas
internadas tengan acceso a sus medios de vida fuera de esos campamentos;


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                                                             S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                             Página 3


     11. Alienta a que se hagan nuevos progresos entre las Naciones Unidas y el
Gobierno y los partidos políticos de Burundi en el establecimiento de las
garantías de seguridad necesarias para que los organismos humanitarios de las
Naciones Unidas reanuden las operaciones sobre el terreno;

     12. Exhorta a los Estados vecinos a que, según proceda, adopten medidas a
fin de detener la actividad transfronteriza de los insurgentes y el tráfico
ilícito de armas y municiones, y velen por la neutralidad, la seguridad y el
carácter civil de los campamentos de refugiados;

     13. Pide a los donantes que proporcionen a Burundi ayuda humanitaria y de
derechos humanos y reanuden el suministro de un volumen considerable de
asistencia económica y para el desarrollo, teniendo debidamente en cuenta las
condiciones de seguridad;

     14. Insta a la comunidad internacional a que examine las necesidades de
desarrollo económico de Burundi con miras a establecer condiciones estables a
largo plazo para el bienestar del pueblo de Burundi y para el regreso de los
refugiados;

     15.   Decide seguir ocupándose activamente de la cuestión.


                                      -----

Texte français (official French version): NATIONS
UNIES                                                                       S
             Conseil de sécurité
                                                              Distr.
                                                              GÉNÉRALE

                                                              S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                              19 janvier 2000




                               RÉSOLUTION 1286 (2000)

             Adoptée par le Conseil de sécurité à sa 4091e séance,
                               le 19 janvier 2000

     Le Conseil de sécurité,

     Réaffirmant ses résolutions et les déclarations antérieures de son
président sur la situation au Burundi,

     Se déclarant préoccupé par la situation économique, humanitaire et sociale
désastreuse du Burundi,

     Se déclarant profondément préoccupé par la violence et l’insécurité
auxquelles est en proie le Burundi, qui se traduisent par la recrudescence des
attaques lancées contre des civils par des groupes armés dans la capitale et aux
alentours,

     Constatant avec préoccupation les incidences de la situation au Burundi sur
la région ainsi que les conséquences pour le Burundi de la persistance de
l’instabilité régionale,

     Reconnaissant le rôle important des États de la région, en particulier la
Tanzanie, qui donne accueil à des centaines de milliers de réfugiés burundais et
où se trouve la Fondation Julius Nyerere, qui a apporté un appui remarquable aux
pourparlers,

     Notant que les organismes des Nations Unies et les organisations régionales
et non gouvernementales, agissant en coopération avec les gouvernements des pays
hôtes, s’appuient sur les Principes directeurs relatifs au déplacement de
personnes à l’intérieur de leur propre pays (E/CN.4/1998/53 et Add.1 et 2),
notamment en Afrique,

     Se félicitant du programme relatif aux droits de l’homme entrepris par
l’Organisation des Nations Unies et de la coopération dont il bénéficie de la
part du Gouvernement burundais et des partis politiques au Burundi,

     Réaffirmant que le processus de paix rénové d’Arusha constitue la base la
plus viable pour un règlement du conflit, conjointement avec les efforts qui



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S/RES/1286 (2000)
Page 2



continuent d’être faits en vue de constituer un partenariat politique interne au
Burundi,

     1.   Approuve et appuie énergiquement la désignation par le huitième Sommet
régional d’Arusha, le 1er décembre 1999, de l’ancien Président de la République
sud-africaine, Nelson Mandela, en tant que nouveau Facilitateur du processus de
paix d’Arusha succédant au regretté Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, exprime son soutien
le plus ferme aux efforts qu’il accomplit en vue de parvenir à une solution
pacifique du conflit au Burundi, et se félicite que son initiative ait été
lancée avec succès lors de la réunion tenue à Arusha le 16 janvier 2000;

     2.   Réitère son appui résolu au processus de paix rénové d’Arusha,
s’associe à l’appel lancé lors du huitième Sommet régional d’Arusha à toutes les
parties au conflit au Burundi pour qu’elles coopèrent au maximum avec le nouveau
Facilitateur du processus de paix, et demande que l’on redouble d’efforts pour
constituer un partenariat politique interne au Burundi;

     3.   Appuie les efforts que le Secrétaire général consacre au renforcement
du rôle de l’Organisation des Nations Unies au Burundi, et en particulier
l’action que continue de mener son Représentant spécial pour la région des
Grands Lacs;

     4.   Félicite les parties burundaises, y compris le Gouvernement, qui ont
démontré leur volonté de poursuivre les négociations, et demande à toutes les
parties qui demeurent à l’écart du processus de paix d’Arusha de mettre fin aux
hostilités et de participer pleinement à ce processus;

     5.   Accueille avec satisfaction l’appui apporté par les donateurs
internationaux et demande qu’une assistance accrue soit assurée au processus de
paix d’Arusha;

     6.   Condamne les actes de violence que continuent de perpétrer toutes les
parties, en particulier les acteurs non étatiques qui refusent de participer au
processus de paix d’Arusha, et demande très instamment à toutes les parties de
mettre un terme au conflit armé et de régler leurs différends par des moyens
pacifiques;

     7.   Condamne les attaques lancées contre des civils au Burundi, et demande
qu’il soit immédiatement mis fin à ces actes criminels;

     8.   Condamne énergiquement l’assassinat dans la province de Rutana, en
octobre 1999, d’agents du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance et du Programme
alimentaire mondial ainsi que de civils burundais et demande instamment que le
nécessaire soit fait pour traduire les auteurs de cet assassinat en justice;

     9.   Demande à toutes les parties de veiller à ce que l’aide humanitaire
puisse parvenir en toute sécurité et sans entrave à ceux qui en ont besoin au
Burundi, ainsi que de garantir pleinement la sécurité et la liberté de
circulation du personnel des Nations Unies et du personnel associé;

    10.   Demande que les agents des organismes à vocation humanitaire et les
spécialistes des droits de l’homme aient immédiatement et pleinement accès, en
toute sécurité et sans entrave, à tous les camps de regroupement, et demande

                                                                            /...

                                                                S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                                Page 3



également que les personnes qui y sont internées aient accès à leurs moyens de
subsistance à l’extérieur de ces camps;

    11.   Encourage l’Organisation des Nations Unies et le Gouvernement
burundais ainsi que les partis politiques au Burundi à continuer de progresser
en vue d’instituer les garanties de sécurité nécessaires pour que les organismes
des Nations Unies à vocation humanitaire puissent reprendre leurs opérations sur
le terrain;

    12.   Demande aux États voisins, selon qu’il y a lieu, de prendre les
mesures voulues pour mettre un terme aux activités des insurgés de part et
d’autre de la frontière, ainsi qu’à la circulation illicite d’armes et de
munitions, et pour assurer la neutralité, la sécurité et le caractère civil des
camps de réfugiés;

    13.   Demande aux donateurs d’apporter secours humanitaires et assistance en
matière de droits de l’homme au Burundi et de reprendre une aide substantielle
sur le plan économique et en matière de développement en tenant dûment compte
des conditions de sécurité;

    14.   Engage la communauté internationale à examiner les besoins du Burundi
en matière de développement économique de manière à créer des conditions de
stabilité durable propres à assurer le bien-être de la population burundaise et
le retour des réfugiés;

    15.   Décide de demeurer activement saisi de la question.

                                     -----

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@B,D"P46 >" <,FH"N;


                                                                                          /...

                                                                          S/RES/1286 (2000)
                                                                          Page 3


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     15.   B@FH">@&:b,H BD@*@:0"H\ "8H4&>@ 2">4<"H\Fb ^H4< &@BD@F@<.


                                            -----


النص العربي (official Arabic version): S                                                                           èb]SáÖK Üá©K
Distr.
GENERAL

S/RES/1286 (2000)
19 January 2000
                                                              àá©K ˝ÖZá


                                         (AIII) @AGE dKdÄÖK


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àëâLÉ @ ï{ bëÄtáÖK à¥áLWÖK ïáîÖ0´K L¥iëdô ê¥¥á0 dáRùá dKd0 èëÄN bìùìë èdKd]N P]dì       - @
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S/RES/1286 (2000)
Page 3



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../..                                                                                       00-24780

Draft resolution (S/2000/29):
UNITED
NATIONS                                                                       S
               Security Council
                                                              Distr.
                                                              GENERAL

                                                              S/2000/29
                                                              18 January 2000

                                                              ORIGINAL:   ENGLISH




                                Draft resolution


     The Security Council,

     Reaffirming its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the
situation in Burundi,

     Expressing concern at the dire economic, humanitarian and social conditions
in Burundi,

     Expressing deep concern at the ongoing violence and insecurity in Burundi
marked by increased attacks by armed groups on the civilian population in and
around the capital,

     Noting with concern the implications of the situation in Burundi for the
region as well as the consequences for Burundi of continued regional
instability,

     Recognizing the important role of the States of the region, in particular
Tanzania, which is host to hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees and home
to the Julius Nyerere Foundation, which has provided outstanding support to the
talks,

     Noting that the United Nations agencies, regional and non-governmental
organizations, in cooperation with host Governments, are making use of the
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (E/CN.4/1998/53 and Add.1-2),
inter alia, in Africa,

     Welcoming the human rights programme undertaken by the United Nations and
the cooperation afforded to it by the Government of Burundi and political
parties in Burundi,

     Reaffirming that the renewed Arusha peace process represents the most
viable basis for a resolution of the conflict together with the continued
efforts to build an internal political partnership in Burundi,

     1.   Warmly endorses and strongly supports the designation by the Eighth
Arusha Regional Summit on 1 December 1999 of Nelson Mandela, former President of
the Republic of South Africa, as the new Facilitator of the Arusha peace

00-24788 (E)   190100                                                         /...

S/2000/29
English
Page 2



process, successor to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, expresses its strongest
support for his efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in
Burundi, and welcomes the successful meeting in Arusha on 16 January 2000
launching his initiative;

     2.   Reiterates its strong support for the renewed Arusha peace process,
endorses the call at the Eighth Arusha Regional Summit for all parties to the
conflict in Burundi to extend maximum cooperation to the new peace process
Facilitator, and calls for increased efforts to build an internal political
partnership in Burundi;

     3.   Endorses efforts by the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the
United Nations in Burundi, and in particular the continued work of his Special
Representative for the Great Lakes region;

     4.   Commends those Burundian parties, including the Government, that have
demonstrated their commitment to continue negotiations, and calls on all parties
that remain outside the Arusha peace process to cease hostilities and to
participate fully in that process;

     5.   Expresses appreciation for international donor support, and appeals
for increased assistance for the Arusha peace process;

     6.   Condemns continuing violence perpetrated by all parties, and in
particular by those non-State actors who refuse to participate in the Arusha
peace process, and strongly urges all parties to end the ongoing armed conflict
and to resolve their differences peacefully;

     7.   Condemns attacks against civilians in Burundi, and calls for an
immediate end to these criminal acts;

     8.   Strongly condemns the murder of United Nations Children’s Fund and
World Food Programme personnel and Burundian civilians in Rutana province in
October 1999, and urges that the perpetrators be effectively brought to justice;

     9.   Calls for all parties to ensure the safe and unhindered access of
humanitarian assistance to those in need in Burundi, and to guarantee fully the
safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated
personnel;

     10. Calls for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered access of
humanitarian workers and human rights observers to all regroupment camps, and
calls for internees to have access to their livelihoods outside these camps;

     11. Encourages further progress between the United Nations and the
Government of Burundi and political parties in Burundi in establishing
appropriate security guarantees for United Nations humanitarian agencies to
resume field operations;

     12. Calls upon neighbouring States, where appropriate, to take measures to
halt cross-border insurgent activity, and the illicit flow of arms and


                                                                              /...

                                                                       S/2000/29
                                                                       English
                                                                       Page 3



ammunition, and to ensure the neutrality, security, and civilian character of
refugee camps;

     13. Calls for donors to provide humanitarian and human rights assistance
to Burundi and to resume substantial economic and development assistance with
due regard to security conditions;

     14. Urges the international community to examine the economic development
needs of Burundi with a view to establishing stable long-term conditions for the
well-being of the Burundian people and for the return of refugees;

     15.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.


                                      -----

Meeting record:
United Nations                                                                                                             S/PV.4091


               Security Council                                                                                                           Provisional
               Fifty-fifth Year


               4091st Meeting
               Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 10.30 a.m.
               New York




President:     Mr. Holbrooke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        (United States of America)

Members:       Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      Mr. Listre
               Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Mr. Chowdhury
               Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     Mr. Fowler
               China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. Shen Guofang
               France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Mr. Dejammet
               Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Miss Durrant
               Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     Mr. Hasmy
               Mali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Mr. Ouane
               Namibia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      Mr. Andjaba
               Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      Mr. van Walsum
               Russian Federation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         Mr. Lavrov
               Tunisia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. Ben Mustapha
               Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Mr. Yel’chenko
               United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . . . . . . . .                         Sir Jeremy Greenstock

Agenda
     The situation in Burundi




00-24817 (E)                                     This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches
                                                 delivered in the other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security
                                                 Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated
                                                 in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the
                                                 Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-178.

Security Council                                                                                        4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                       19 January 2000

     The meeting was called to order at 10.40 a.m.            none is more urgent. Certainly in no other country is it so
                                                              easy to imagine a repetition of what we have all sworn
Adoption of the agenda                                        must never be repeated: ethnic killing on a genocidal
                                                              scale. Again we see two ethnic groups locked in
     The agenda was adopted.                                  apparently implacable hostility to one another, a steadily
                                                              escalating spiral of violence and killing and a faltering
The situation in Burundi                                      peace process in which the different parties pay lip
                                                              service at best.
     The President: In accordance with the understanding
reached in the Council’s prior consultations, and in the            Some progress has been achieved in the four
absence of any objection, I shall take it that the Security   commissions in Arusha and through consultations in
Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its   Dar-es-Salaam. We all remember with gratitude the
provisional rules of procedure to the Facilitator of the      efforts made by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to push
Burundi peace process, Mr. Nelson Mandela.                    the process forward. Yet serious disagreements remain on
                                                              some key issues — such as the future composition of the
     There being no objection, it is so decided.              army, the electoral system and the transition period —
                                                              while others — such as guarantees for the minority
      I invite Mr. Mandela to take a seat at the Council      community and the question of reconciliation versus
table.                                                        impunity — have yet to be seriously addressed.

     I would note for the members of the Security Council           Also, we are all acutely aware of the unstable and
and for the audience that President Mandela will need to      volatile regional context in which this drama is taking
depart this meeting at approximately 11.45 a.m. At that       place. We shall no doubt discuss that dimension in more
point, we will have a brief suspension and then resume the    detail next week when the Council considers the conflict
debate.                                                       in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But we cannot
                                                              ignore it when discussing Burundi, which is not only
     The Security Council will now begin its consideration    affected by events in neighbouring countries but also has
of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in          the potential to further destabilize the region, especially
accordance with the understanding reached in its prior        if violence continues to escalate, prompting more of the
consultations.                                                population to flee across the borders.

     It is now my great honour to call on my friend, our           For all those reasons, I heartily welcome the
colleague and our associate, the Secretary-General of the     involvement of President Mandela and place great hopes
United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, to begin today’s              in his ability to revive the peace process. We in the
discussion.                                                   United Nations Secretariat are determined to give
                                                              whatever help we can, and I am sure the Council will
     The Secretary-General: Once again I congratulate         wish to do the same. The appalling humanitarian
you, Mr. President, on your success in using your             consequences of the present political stalemate would in
presidency to focus world attention on Africa and its         themselves provide sufficient reason to do so.
problems, and I join you in welcoming President Mandela
to the Council Chamber. His presence with us today is a             Hundreds of thousands of Burundians have died over
credit both to him and to you, Mr. President. It shows the    the past 10 years. The number of Burundian refugees has
dedication and seriousness which he brings to his new task    now reached 500,000 and is growing by the day. More
as Facilitator of the peace efforts in Burundi, and it also   than 800,000 people, 12 per cent of the country’s
shows how much he values the assistance the Council can       population, are internally displaced, many of them as a
give him as he undertakes that formidable task. By coming     result of a deliberate Government policy of forcibly
here he pays all of us a compliment and puts us under a       relocating civilians in circumstances where this cannot be
strong obligation to show ourselves worthy of his faith.      justified under international humanitarian law. Since
                                                              September alone, over 300,000 innocent men, women and
    Mr. President, you have done well to make the conflict    children in the region surrounding Bujumbura have been
in Burundi the subject of this open meeting. Of all the       herded into camps where they are deprived not only of
many crises and conflicts confronting Africa today, perhaps


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Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

their freedom, but of the most elementary means of                      This help cannot be confined to the diplomatic
subsistence.                                                      sphere; it must also have an economic dimension. While
                                                                  humanitarian aid has continued to flow to Burundi — and
      The humanitarian impact of this policy has been             the United Nations Development Programme, in
disastrous. As the World Food Programme reported this             particular, has mobilized $6 million in a trust fund to
week, thousands are now in special feeding programmes,            address the needs of local communities affected by the
and more are entering every day. But many sites are               crisis — other forms of international support have been
inaccessible by vehicle, which makes the delivery of              interrupted since mid-1996.
assistance very difficult. We are on the verge of another
humanitarian catastrophe, for which the world will                      But once donors are convinced that there is a serious
undoubtedly hold the Government of Burundi responsible.           effort by the Burundian parties to find a political
I fully endorse the statement on this subject that was issued     compromise, they too should be prepared to make an
today by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.                     effort. Burundians will need generous help to reverse the
                                                                  effects of seven years of conflict and to begin at last to
      Two days ago, the Government of Burundi announced           address their country’s most basic development needs.
its intention to set up a parliamentary commission to             With that help, they could lay the foundations of a
investigate the health conditions prevailing in the camps         tolerant, democratic political order, in which all ethnic
and to start dismantling those in the province of Bujumbura       and social groups can find their place. And that, in turn,
Rural within two weeks. I welcome this announcement, but          would be a major contribution to peace and security
urge the authorities to go further and abandon this               throughout the region.
inhumane and illegal policy altogether. So long as the
camps exist, the Government must allow independent                      To place such hopes in the generosity and
humanitarian agencies full access to them and must at all         enlightened self-interest of donors may seem naive in the
times ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, both             light of past experience, but your success, Sir, in focusing
international and local.                                          attention on this Council’s work in Africa emboldens me
                                                                  to expect that, where Africans really do show a
      No party in Burundi should assume that the justice of       willingness to tackle their own problems, more fortunate
its cause or the iniquity of its opponents is as obvious to       countries, led by your own, will indeed be willing to help.
the rest of the world as they may seem to itself. And             Meanwhile, I know the Council is impatient to hear from
certainly, no party should assume that outsiders will come        Mr. Mandela, so let me not delay him any longer.
to rescue it from the consequences of its own folly and
intransigence. One side may think itself entitled to the               The President: Let me explain for the people who
world’s sympathy because it represents an ethnic minority,        are attending today how we will proceed. We will hear a
the same ethnic group which has been the victim of                discussion by President Mandela of what he has done and
genocide in Rwanda. The other may equally plausibly see           what he plans to do. There will be other speakers; every
itself as the victim, right now, of oppressive minority rule.     member here has asked to speak. The first speaker after
But neither can escape its share of responsibility for the        President Mandela will be the Ambassador of Mali. At
escalating violence or for the lack of progress towards a         the end of the session, we will adopt a Security Council
political solution.                                               resolution. That will take place before lunch today.

      As a fellow African, I can only echo Mr. Mandela’s               It is now my great honour to call on the Facilitator
words to the parties in Arusha on Sunday. Their willingness       of the Burundi peace process, Mr. Nelson Mandela. I just
to sacrifice the lives of their fellow citizens on the altar of   want to make a brief comment on behalf of all of us.
their political ambitions amounts to a betrayal of millions
of other Africans who are struggling to promote the                     For almost everyone in this room — certainly, for
continent’s recovery. It is a grievous obstacle to those of us    myself — Mr. Mandela was a large figure in our lives
who are trying to engage the sympathy and support of the          before we even knew what he looked like, as we had not
rest of the world on their behalf. I strongly urge all parties    been able to see photographs of him for so many years.
to cooperate with him in seeking a political solution. If they    When he emerged from prison, in one of the great
do, I remain hopeful that, this time, the international           moments for all of us who were able to see it, and we
community will assist them.                                       realized that he was going to take his place on the world



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Security Council                                                                                             4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

stage in a new and historic role — a role of historic                  We need to thank the United Nations for convening
proportions — it meant even more to us.                          this special meeting of the Security Council to apply its
                                                                 mind to and remain seized of the matter concerning
      I am confident that history will rank him alongside        Burundi. Where even one single human being, one group
Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., as one of the seminal        of people, one nation or one part of the world labours
figures of our century — as perhaps our leading moral            under preventable suffering, it is the concern of all of us
authority. What he did for his country alone would justify       as a world drawn closer together than ever before in our
his unique role; but he is also a symbol to so many people       history.
around the world. Mr. Gusmão in East Timor has talked
about Mr. Mandela as his inspiration; Ibrahim Rugova in                The misery of the Burundian people affects us all
Pristina, Kosovo, has talked about it; and I know that is        and diminishes the humanity of all of us. The
true all over the world.                                         international community turns its attention and its energy
                                                                 to this matter not as a favour to that country or continent.
      Upon his retirement, which he so richly deserves to        The failure of those responsible to provide conditions of
spend in peace with his new wife and his children and            security and social development to the people of Burundi
grandchildren, he described himself to my wife and me last       does not represent some errant occurrence on the
month as just another pensioner. Well, some pensioner! He        periphery. It hits at the heart of our common human
has accepted one of the world’s most difficult jobs, while       obligation to make of this century one where all human
retaining an active interest in other issues around the world.   beings will at last share in the security and prosperity that
                                                                 our planet is capable of providing.
     We welcome him today in his first appearance before
the United Nations Security Council. Our goal is simple: to            In spite of the grave difficulties we still face in
hear Mr. Mandela’s report and, to echo the words of our          Burundi — issues to which I shall return in the course of
Secretary-General, to learn from him how we may assist           this report — it is gratifying to be able to state that a lot
him. The Security Council is unanimous in appreciating that      of progress has already been made since the start of the
he has undertaken this immensely difficult task.                 negotiations. In the past 18 months the Arusha process
                                                                 has seen the establishment of four committees, each
     It is now my great honour to ask Mr. Mandela to             targeting particular aspects of the negotiations. These
address some remarks to the Security Council and to the          committees have achieved significant progress, and two
world.                                                           of them — the one dealing with the nature of the conflict
                                                                 and the issue of genocide and the other dealing with
      Mr. Mandela: We are both honoured and saddened by          reconstruction and development — have nearly completed
this occasion: honoured that the leaders of the Great Lakes      their work. The major outstanding issues for those two
region found it fit to call upon us to step into the shoes of    committees are, respectively, the appropriate mechanism
that great son of Africa and the world, Mwalimu Julius           for dealing with the past; and agreement on the question
Nyerere, to continue the facilitation of the Burundi peace       of the recovery of property by returning refugees. Also,
process and that we may now in that capacity address the         the question of amnesty remains as particularly
Security Council of our world body; saddened that the            problematic and complex given the history of Burundi; by
world, and in this case our beloved continent of Africa,         the same token, it is one of the crucial matters to be
continues to be haunted by such a self-inflicted human           tackled if permanent peace is to be established.
tragedy as that in Burundi and that there is the need for the
facilitation and process upon which we shall report to the            The other two committees are those dealing with, on
Security Council this morning.                                   the one hand, democracy and good governance and, on
                                                                 the other, peace and security for all. These committees
      We cannot commence speaking of this process without        too have made significant progress but continue to
first paying homage to Mwalimu Nyerere. We are inspired          confront some major issues on which the Burundians
by the energy, patience and wisdom he invested in the            must agree. Most of the parties are agreed on the
peace process over several years. We are humbled by the          principle of universal franchise, but differences remain on
stature of the man whom we are asked to succeed and              whether the parliament should be balanced in ethnic,
heavily under the impression of the obligation that places       gender or other terms.
upon us.



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Security Council                                                                                             4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

      The real challenge facing Burundi, and hence facing        been the case. Indeed, over the past year, and in the last
the facilitation, is that of creating a form of democracy that   few months in particular, there has been an intensification
provides for accountable and responsive government and           of violence, including attacks on the civilian population.
that ensures security for those who for reasons of
demography feel vulnerable within such a system.                       Killings, whether ethnically targeted or
                                                                 indiscriminate ambushes on civilians, the burning of
     With regard to peace and security for all, the parties      houses and the forcible removal of people from their
have agreed on principles for the organization of the            homes have become all too common occurrences in
defence and security forces, and on the missions of the          Burundian life. The population of Burundi has become
army, the police and the intelligence services. So far,          hostage to violence from all sides in the conflict. As a
however, they have failed to agree on a programme of             result, new waves of refugees are fleeing the country, and
reform of the present security forces or on the issue of the     people are increasingly becoming internally displaced in
integration of armed groups into the security forces. These      their own country.
are amongst the most sensitive issues in the negotiations
and will have to be faced squarely if the process is to lead           Burundians face the task of demilitarizing their
to a durable peace in Burundi.                                   society in the medium term and of embarking on the
                                                                 formidable task of development and reconstruction. An
      We paid a visit to Arusha on Sunday, 16 January            end to the senseless violence through which various
2000, to acquaint ourselves with the facilitation team, the      forces in Burundi seek to assert themselves is a first step
international agencies and representatives involved in the       in that longer-term process. In this regard we shall seek
process and, most important, the heads of delegations from       to send a clear message to the Burundi Government that
the Burundian political parties and role-players. We came        in spite of the manner in which they came to power, they
away from that meeting impressed by the potential and            and, through them, the Burundi army have a particular
quality of leadership present in Burundi. We met and             responsibility to defend and protect the civilian
interacted with people of outstanding intelligence and           population, and not just a given part of it.
education.
                                                                      We regard it similarly as of crucial importance to
      There are political processes and sets of dynamics         issue a clear call to those armed groups that are not in the
under way which, if harnessed and directed onto                  process. We shall make renewed efforts to engage those
constructive routes, could form the basis for a lasting          groups with the purpose of making them aware of the
political settlement in that hitherto troubled country. But it   nature of the exchanges in the process and to gather some
is time for Burundians to get down to business. No one can       indication of their attitudes towards the shape of a
reach an agreement on their behalf. The responsibility rests     possible consensus.
squarely with their leaders now to find the necessary
arrangements by which Burundians can live together.                   We have no doubt that the Burundian peace talks
                                                                 represent the only way in which Burundi can achieve
      As one becomes acquainted with the history of the          peace and embark on the task of reconstruction and
negotiations and the nature of the conflict in Burundi, it       development. For this process to be successful, it must be
becomes evident that Burundians have much more in                inclusive, and to the extent that players are not
common with each other than that which divides them.             represented at Arusha, we shall regard it as our task to
What divides them is their unfortunate history and the           make the process as inclusive as possible.
perceptions that are the legacy of that history. As it is
perceptions of differences that divide, it is also perceptions        We shall continue to emphasize to the parties
properly adjusted that can serve as the foundation for           already at the negotiating table that there is no alternative
uniting Burundi as a nation. To that task the leadership of      to meaningful engagement within the political mainstream
Burundi now stands called.                                       of the process. To those outside the process, the message
                                                                 will be sent to start formulating their political aspirations
     One of the most important issues impacting upon the         in coherent terms and to demonstrate the capability to
Burundian situation and the negotiation process is that of       come to the negotiating table in good faith and in full
violence. When the negotiations started in June 1998 it was      respect of the guiding principles of the process.
hoped that they would take place in an atmosphere free
from violence and bloodshed. Unfortunately, this has not


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Security Council                                                                                             4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

      There is also the need for a stronger link between the           We are under no illusions about the political
peace process and the reality of political life in Burundi.       problems we face in Burundi or about the utmost fragility
Common sense tells us that if an agreement signed in              of the security situation in that country. Neither can we
Arusha were not acceptable to public opinion in Burundi,          underestimate the impact of regional developments in the
it could not be successfully implemented. The responsibility      Great Lakes region on developments in Burundi. We
for ensuring that link lies solely with the leadership of the     conclude, however, by restating our confidence that there
parties conducting the negotiations. This means that the          is sufficient capacity among the leaders of Burundi to
political leaders need to do groundwork at the grass-roots        reach compromises and agreements that can at last lead
level in order to persuade their constituencies that the price    to peace and stability in that country. If Burundians can
of agreement and lasting peace will be concession and             reach an agreement on a way to live together, they will
compromise on certain major issues. To this end, among            be setting an example to neighbouring countries, to Africa
others, we have already indicated to the Burundian political      and to the world.
leaders that we are willing to accept their invitation to visit
Burundi as part of our facilitation task.                              It is not possible to establish regional peace unless
                                                                  the component parts of a region establish domestic
      The Burundian peace process needs the support of the        foundations for a stable democratic order. Peace in
international community to sustain the actual negotiations        Burundi will give hope for the Democratic Republic of
and the ongoing efforts to achieve peace. At the same time,       Congo and other countries in the region, and it will prove
we must express our deep appreciation for the support it          an effective example of African intervention in an African
has already received up until now. A further investment in        problem.
the process can only help finally achieve those objectives
to which the international community has already given so            We thank our world body and the international
generously. The international community can also help             community for their attention to this matter.
alleviate the suffering of the Burundian people through the
provision of humanitarian aid, insofar as security conditions         The President: I thank Mr. Mandela for his
allow. In that regard, we appeal to all the belligerents to       important message. I hope the whole world is listening.
respect the international humanitarian efforts in Burundi
and, in particular, to safeguard the security of those                  Mr. Ouane (Mali) (spoke in French): In addressing
involved in humanitarian assistance.                              the Security Council this morning, I am aware of what a
                                                                  privilege and great honour it is for me and for the
      We commend the efforts of the United Nations                Republic of Mali to express our views on the situation in
agencies to resume fully their activities in the field. We        Burundi. But what more can be said after the enlightening
would, however, like to restate that the primary                  statement of the Secretary-General and the great and
responsibility for ending the humanitarian crisis in Burundi      inspired statement of President Mandela? I shall therefore
lies with the leaders of the Burundi people. It is they who,      confine myself to making just a few observations.
by an effort of politics, must create the conditions enabling
their people to return to their homes and resume normal                 First of all, I should like to say how grateful my
economic life. We intend to follow up our recent first visit      delegation is to you, Mr. President, for having organized
to Arusha with a more extended one in February, by which          this important meeting. I should also like to welcome the
time much more work will have been done at the                    presence with us today of President Nelson Mandela, and
committee level and in other consultative processes.              I should like to thank him for his important statement. I
                                                                  should also like to thank the Secretary-General for his
      We particularly wish to invite to that meeting other        statement.
heads of State from different parts of the world. Apart from
providing financial and humanitarian assistance, the                    The situation in Burundi is certainly a difficult one.
international community has a part to play politically. The       Violence and insecurity are continuing, as reflected in
effectiveness of the messages we have delivered to the            resumed attacks against the civilian population and
various protagonists in Burundi can only be reinforced by         against humanitarian organizations by armed groups,
the participation of other heads of State and countries. The      particularly around Bujumbura.
problems of Burundi are the concern of all of us, as are the
problems in any other part of the world.                               Moreover, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic.
                                                                  Right here, just a few days ago, Mrs. Ogata, the United


6

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, gave us an               freedom and valuable contribution to the peace process in
overwhelming account of the large number of Burundi              Burundi will go down in history.
refugees and displaced persons fleeing constant fighting
between rebel groups and Government forces. How can we                We have full confidence, in President Mandela
fail to mention the human rights violations that accompany       because of his eminent stature in the world and his wellthese renewed tensions? Mali is concerned by this situation.     known struggle and commitment to African issues. We
                                                                 share the great respect that African leaders and peoples
      However, there are some encouraging prospects for a        have for him. The active role that he has undertaken at
settlement of the crisis in Burundi. They are based, as we       the regional and continental level offers the best chance
have just seen, on the following steps: first of all, the        for continuing the Arusha peace process and pushing it
reactivation of the Arusha peace process, seen as the most       towards success. This gives us reason for optimism. We
viable basis for a settlement of the conflict, along with        express our support and encouragement for his efforts,
efforts still being made to set up an internal political         and we thank him for his valuable statement this morning.
partnership in Burundi; secondly, the designation of             We call upon all parties in Burundi to cooperate with him
President Nelson Mandela as Facilitator of the Arusha            and facilitate his task. We also call upon the international
peace process by the Eighth Arusha Regional Summit;              community, including the more powerful countries, to
thirdly, the coordination of the implementation of the           lend him support in the peace process.
Lusaka process and the reactivation of the Arusha process;
and lastly, the commitment of the international community              I will limit my remarks to the following points
to provide assistance for reconciliation, reconstruction and     concerning the Arusha peace process. First, experience
democratization.                                                 has shown that the stalemate in negotiations will lead
                                                                 some parties towards violence and extreme positions. The
      The draft resolution that we will adopt at this meeting    Arusha process is entering a new and decisive stage, and
is to be seen precisely from this standpoint, and that is why    the option of negotiation becomes the best choice for
my delegation fully supports it.                                 bringing peace and security to Burundi. Therefore, we
                                                                 once again express our encouragement to President
     In conclusion, I would like to fulfil a duty of             Mandela to find the ways and means suitable to facilitate
conscience and my brotherhood. The duty of conscience is         the Arusha talks, in consultation with the concerned
to pay tribute to the memory of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere           parties.
and express appreciation for the valuable contribution he
made to peace and national reconciliation in Burundi. The             One of the most urgent priorities is to halt the acts
duty of brotherhood is to renew to President Nelson              of violence and killing and to engage in negotiations,
Mandela the constant, total and resolute support of the          because the fighting and violence in Burundi have led to
Republic of Mali for his work, particularly in facing this       humanitarian tragedies, an increase in the number of
new challenge that the Council is considering today.             refugees and displaced persons, a deterioration of living
                                                                 conditions and a waste of its economic potential.
     The President: I thank the Ambassador of Mali for           Providing humanitarian and economic assistance to the
being so concise. I remind everyone that we agreed               people of Burundi would alleviate their suffering and
yesterday that all speakers would try to limit themselves to     promote the peace process.
about four minutes so that President Mandela could hear as
many comments as possible before being required to leave.              All parties in Burundi have to prove to President
                                                                 Mandela and the international community that a political
     Mr. Ben Mustapha (Tunisia) (spoke in Arabic): I             solution through collective participation in the Arusha
would like to thank Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his         process is what they need. This should be serious
valuable statement, in which he presented his evaluation of      participation leading to achieving the goals set for this
the situation in Burundi and the means to deal with it. At       process. We hope that the talks will end as soon as
the outset, let me say that we feel very fortunate to have       possible and will lead to a peace agreement accepted by
President Nelson Mandela present among us. I wish to             all parties.
salute him most warmly and, on behalf of Tunisia, to
express our appreciation for accepting the task of Facilitator         Secondly, what do we expect from this agreement?
in the Arusha peace process for Burundi. He thus follows         We hope that it will lay the groundwork for the
another African leader whose struggle for independence and       transitional period leading to a gradual reform of the State


                                                                                                                           7

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

institutions within a framework of national reconciliation,            Canada also welcomes the appointment of Berhanu
forgiveness and wider participation in political life. We        Dinka as United Nations Special Representative for the
believe that this will not happen overnight, as President        Great Lakes region as a sign of growing United Nations
Mandela has just said, because this difficult process            engagement in the area. We hope that Ambassador Dinka
requires time and the building of mutual confidence              will be successful in his work to increase the international
between the parties. This is very important, as political will   community’s efforts to address the deteriorating situation
and an actual commitment to implement what is agreed             in Burundi.
upon.
                                                                       We strongly condemn the continued violence against
      Thirdly, the role of the international community in        the civilian population perpetrated by all the parties, in
general, and of the United Nations in particular, is             particular the massacres in rural Bujumbura in December
important in providing material support and encouragement        and in the province of Rutana earlier this month, as well
for this process until it finally succeeds, and then in          as attacks on humanitarian workers. The Council must
following it up so that the Burundian people can harvest the     urge all parties to the conflict in Burundi to cease these
fruits of peace.                                                 attacks and must insist that all perpetrators of human
                                                                 rights and humanitarian law violations be held
      We hope that the political confidence of the parties       accountable for their actions.
has increased with President Mandela’s assumption of his
task and the suitability of the situation for pushing the              Canada urges the Council to call on all parties to the
process forward. However, at the same time, we believe           conflict to ensure that safe and unhindered access to
that the Burundian question is not a simple one; it is related   affected populations is given; to guarantee fully the
to the situation in the Great Lakes region as a whole. This      safety, security and freedom of personnel, including
requires us to think about dealing with the problems of the      locally engaged staff; and to ensure that refugees are
region in a wider context.                                       protected, respected and enabled to return voluntarily and
                                                                 in safety to their homes.
     I would like to conclude by saying that the draft
resolution before the Council today is a clear message to all         Canada has condemned in the past, and continues to
the concerned parties to work seriously to bring an end to       do so, the policy of forced displacement of the population
the conflict in Burundi. We support its adoption.                into regroupment camps where access by humanitarian
                                                                 personnel is restricted. We are encouraged by the
     The President: I thank the Ambassador of Tunisia for        comments made by the Secretary-General this morning
his kind words.                                                  indicating that there may be some movement on this
                                                                 important issue. We believe very strongly that these
     Mr. Fowler (Canada): The Canadian intervention this         camps are a violation of the human rights of Burundians.
morning in this historic debate will be made by Mr. Joseph       Canada calls for the dismantling of the camps and, in the
Caron, who is our Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for      meantime, for full and unconditional access to these
Africa and Asia.                                                 camps by humanitarian workers and human rights
                                                                 observers.
     Mr. Caron (Canada): Canada warmly welcomes the
nomination of Nelson Mandela as the new Facilitator of the            In conclusion, Canada believes that the people of
Arusha peace process. We strongly support his efforts to         Burundi, and indeed all of those who care about peace
achieve a negotiated political and peaceful solution to the      and stability in that unfortunate country, are immensely
conflict in Burundi. We are pleased to hear that Mr.             fortunate that the peace process is facilitated by a man of
Mandela successfully launched his work in Arusha just a          such political wisdom, experience, stature and humanity
few days ago.                                                    as Madiba Mandela.

     Canada has contributed $1.25 million to this process              Mr. Listre (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): We
and wishes to reiterate that the renewed Arusha peace            welcome the convening of this open briefing on the
process is the most viable means of achieving a durable          situation in Burundi and in particular the presence of
peace and for the resumption of a long-term sustainable          President Nelson Mandela.
development in Burundi.



8

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

      The analysis that President Mandela has shared with        making conditions for economic assistance more flexible
us and the excellent briefing by the Secretary-General have      will strengthen the Arusha process.
enabled us to better understand the deep-rooted causes of
the conflict in Burundi and the vital commitments that are             Another cause for concern is the security and
necessary to reach a peaceful, negotiated and participatory      freedom of movement of United Nations and associated
solution. We believe that this solution should reflect the       personnel operating in Burundi. We call on all the parties
reasonable aspirations of the majority while fully               to the conflict to respect their status. In this context, we
safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the          reiterate our condemnation of the assassination of United
minority.                                                        Nations Children’s Fund and World Food Programme
                                                                 personnel which took place in Rutana on 12 October
     The first step towards reconciliation is an immediate       1999. This crime cannot go unpunished. Its perpetrators
ceasefire and the cessation of all attacks on the civilian       must be tried and punished in accordance with the law.
population by armed groups. These indiscriminate attacks
deserve our strongest condemnation. Moreover, we are                   We believe that the question of Burundi is
deeply concerned about the policy of forced regroupment of       inextricably linked to the regional context. Peace and
more than 340,000 persons ordered by the Government of           stability in Burundi will be strengthened through the
Burundi. We believe that this policy contravenes recognized      consolidation of the rule of law in all countries of the
principles of international humanitarian law and must cease.     Great Lakes region. We do not believe that the problems
In this context, and bearing in mind the difficult living        afflicting the Great Lakes region are exclusively political
conditions in the aforementioned camps, we call on the           or security-related. For that reason, we would like to
Government of Burundi to give full access to humanitarian        support France’s proposal to convene, when conditions
personnel and human rights monitors.                             are favourable, a general conference on the Great Lakes
                                                                 region under the joint auspices of the Organization of
      There can be no doubt that the internal partnership        African Unity and the United Nations.
between the Government and the National Assembly as
well as the Arusha process are forums for negotiation and             Mr. Dejammet (France) (spoke in French): Like all
dialogue that must be maintained and enhanced. Otherwise,        of the members here, I too am very aware of the honour
the political arena will be taken over by extremists, and the    done us today by the presence of President Mandela and
forces of moderation, Hutu and Tutsi alike, the very ones        of the Secretary-General, and I welcome the very moving
who worked to launch the peace process, will, regrettably,       and eloquent tribute that you paid, on behalf of the
be marginalized. With regard to the Arusha process in            Council, to President Mandela.
particular, we believe that in order to be effective it must
reflect the realities on the ground and be open to the                 Our words are neither pro forma nor dictated simply
participation of all groups and sectors, with no exclusions      by the present situation. The conflict in Burundi was
or self-exclusions. We also trust that all of the parties will   unending; there was no hope in sight. But everything can
heed, in good faith, with an open mind and a sense of            change, and in this case everything began to change with
compromise, the advice and proposals provided by                 the arrival of President Mandela, thanks to his prestige,
President Mandela on the basis of more than 30 years of          moral authority and dynamism, and above all to his noble
tireless struggle for freedom, human dignity and the rule of     spirit and his tireless dedication to democracy and
law in Africa.                                                   national reconciliation — because national reconciliation
                                                                 is indeed the key to resolving the situation in Burundi.
      We believe that the economic and social situation in
Burundi is not unrelated to the growing climate of tension             That is why we fully support the efforts being made
in that country. The data on malnutrition, infant mortality,     by Mr. Mandela along the lines of those made by
basic services and health care speak for themselves. Despite     President Nyerere. We appreciate in particular President
the lifting of regional economic sanctions in February last,     Mandela’s intention to have the armed groups involved in
Burundi has not regained the market share it lost as a result    the inter-Burundian peace talks, something that is indeed
of the economic embargo, and the people are not receiving        essential. It is to be hoped that the inclusion in the
their “peace dividend”. That is why we call upon the donor       negotiations of all the Burundi parties will enable the
States to consider resuming development assistance, to the       cessation of hostilities as quickly as possible. We also
extent that security conditions permit. We believe that          welcome President Mandela’s stated desire to go to



                                                                                                                           9

Security Council                                                                                          4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                         19 January 2000

Burundi in order to ensure that all the people of Burundi             Mr. Shen Guofang (China) (spoke in Chinese): First
are kept well informed about the peace process.                 of all, my delegation wishes to express its warm welcome
                                                                to the newly nominated Facilitator of the Arusha peace
     Through the European Union, France is making its           process, President Mandela. We would like to thank the
contribution to the financing of the Arusha peace process,      President of the Council for having arranged for this
and we are prepared to extend our assistance to the             meeting today to give us an opportunity to exchange
negotiations.                                                   views with President Mandela and to explore together
                                                                ways to settle the conflict in Burundi. We would also like
      We deplore the resumption in Burundi of violence and      to thank Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the important
the violations of human rights that go along with it. We        briefing he gave.
condemn the attacks by armed groups on civilians and on
the personnel of humanitarian organizations. We are                   China strongly supports the facilitating efforts of
disturbed by the forced regroupment of civilians. We note       President Mandela. We believe that with his outstanding
that in the Great Lakes region several countries have had,      wisdom and experience, he will instill new vitality into
and are having, recourse to the practice of forced              the peace process in Burundi. The recently concluded
regroupment to cope with security problems. We deplore          meeting at Arusha serves as proof in this regard. We
that practice in all the countries of the region where it is    believe that many views and proposals put forward by
applied, and we call for it to be halted immediately.           President Mandela merit study and attention by the
                                                                Council. At the same time, we also believe that the
      We take note of the announcement by the Government        realization of peace and reconciliation in Burundi depend
of Burundi that it will proceed to “gradually dismantle the     ultimately on the people of Burundi and the leaders of the
protection sites”. We urge the Government to implement          various factions. As President Mandela pointed out, no
that commitment and to ensure access to humanitarian            one else can take their place in the achievement of peace.
assistance in the meantime.
                                                                      Achieving a political settlement through negotiations
      The resumption and continuation of the Arusha peace       is the only way to end the internal conflict and bring
process should be supported by the international community      about reconciliation in Burundi. Military means can only
in a very concrete way. The economic distress in the region     render futile any achievement made so far in the peace
aggravates tension. The vicious cycle must be broken, and       process and will once again plunge the people of Burundi
therefore all assistance efforts must be mobilized to           into the abyss of war. We therefore appeal to the relevant
facilitate economic reconstruction and democracy.               factions in Burundi to proceed on the basis of the
                                                                fundamental interests of the people of Burundi,
      Finally, as everyone else who has spoken so far has       immediately cease hostilities and participate fully in the
said, the Council must bear in mind the links that exist with   peace process so that an agreement may be reached as
the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,          soon as possible. We fully agree with President Mandela
which has seriously affected the situation in Burundi.          that the leaders of the various factions in Burundi have
Implementation of the Lusaka Agreement to resolve the           the responsibility in this regard.
conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is
essential to bring about the full recovery of Burundi. The            The severe economic situation is the main cause of
Arusha and Lusaka processes must mutually support each          the turbulent situation in Burundi. Without a fundamental
other. It is difficult to conceive of a lasting peace if that   and thorough elimination of poverty, it will be hard to
peace is not all-inclusive, does not take into account the      achieve and maintain peace and stability in Burundi. We
interactions that may exist among the various countries of      therefore appeal to the international community and to the
the region and does not lead, as the Ambassador of              donor community to intensify economic assistance to
Argentina has said, to the holding of an international peace    Burundi. As always, my Government will continue to
conference on the Great Lakes region.                           provide assistance to the peace process in various aspects.

     The President: I know that President Mandela needs               We would like to emphasize that peace and stability
to leave, but he has said that he would like to stay for a      in Burundi are inseparable from peace and stability in the
couple of more speeches, at least. I thank President            Great Lakes region as a whole. The conflict and
Mandela. We know how unbelievably tight his time is.            confrontations among countries in the region are often
                                                                interrelated and mutually affect one another. The


10

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

international community must commit itself to                          We have to insist with all the parties to the conflict
fundamentally resolve the conflict in the entire Great Lakes     that the human rights of the people of Burundi have to be
region. We support the proposal to hold an international         respected, that humanitarian law has to be abided by and
conference on the Great Lakes region, and we believe that        that there has to be access for the humanitarian agencies
the Security Council and the entire United Nations should        of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations
take practical measures to promote the convening of such         to the people of Burundi who are suffering.
a conference and that we should give it the support it
needs, including financial and human resources.                        The draft resolution that we are about to adopt, and
                                                                 which the United Kingdom supports, does not, in the end,
      Finally, my delegation believes that the draft             mention the regroupement camps, but my Government,
resolution that is to be adopted will demonstrate the            like the Secretary-General, condemns those camps. They
Council’s support for the Arusha peace process and move          are not the right process for the handling of the
that process forward.                                            humanitarian situation. We do hope that President
                                                                 Mandela will use his influence to make sure that those
     The President: I will now call on the representative        affected by the humanitarian crisis be allowed to return to
of the United Kingdom, after which we will have a very           their homes and that there be unhindered access to them
short suspension so that the Secretary-General and I may         as well for the humanitarian agencies.
escort President Mandela out of the Chamber. We will then
resume as rapidly as we can. I know that we are all very               On the political process, the Secretary-General
sorry that we could not have all the speeches while              referred to the principal areas of disagreement between
President Mandela was here, but that was unavoidable             the parties. We have not really discussed them this
given the pressures this morning.                                morning, but they are bound to take up President
                                                                 Mandela’s attention: the composition of the army, the
     Sir Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom): I have to           electoral process and, perhaps most difficult, how to make
admit to Madiba President Mandela that the Security              the transition work from the present situation to a
Council has been scratching its head on the issue of             situation that is stable and acceptable to the international
Burundi. We did not seem to be getting very far last             community.
year — last month. The Government of Burundi was,
frankly, not listening to the international community. It was          Madiba Mandela has confirmed that the process has
not putting the people of Burundi first.                         failed so far on reform of the security forces and on the
                                                                 integration of armed groups into the regular security
      I think that President Mandela’s appointment is a very     forces’ set-up. Mr. Mandela has indicated that these
important turning point in this particular crisis, and perhaps   difficulties can really be dealt with only by a change of
for the hopes for regional peace in that part of Africa. His     perception on the ground. I think this, above all, is what
willingness immediately to see all the groups involved in        we are looking to him for. He said that political leaders
this conflict and to encourage inter-party dialogue both         need to do their groundwork at the grass-roots level and
inside and outside the framework of the talks will, I think,     look for compromises on the major political issues. How
encourage a sense of ownership in the final agreement on         are they going to be encouraged to do that?
a political solution by all Burundi and increase the chance
of a successful implementation.                                       I think that Mr. Mandela’s appointment, and indeed
                                                                 the public attention which this meeting of the Security
    Let me comment briefly on two aspects: the                   Council has brought to this issue, must above all create a
humanitarian and the political.                                  momentum for such a change of perceptions and for the
                                                                 strengthening of the link between the Arusha political
      The Secretary-General has just said to us, in a very       process and the political facts of life in Burundi. Time is
important analysis of the situation, that we are now on the      not on Burundi’s side and I think now is the opportunity
verge of another humanitarian catastrophe. It may be, as the     for all the people of Burundi to rise to the challenge of
Secretary-General has said, that we would blame the              resolving their differences.
Government of Burundi for such a catastrophe, but the
international community cannot afford that after Rwanda,               Mr. Mandela said that regional peace needs all the
after Srebrenica and after other things that we have not got     component parts to be stable. Well, we must get Burundi
right.                                                           right not just for the people of Burundi, but also for the


                                                                                                                          11

Security Council                                                                                             4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

continuing search for stability and security in the region and   delegation, I wish simply to highlight some points. First,
in the continent.                                                this meeting sends a positive signal from the Security
                                                                 Council of our support for former President Mandela and
      The President: I should now like to call for a brief       of our willingness to embrace his initiatives to move the
suspension of the meeting while the Secretary-General            Arusha peace process forward. As we have heard from
escorts President Mandela out of the Chamber. We will            him, there have been some positive developments which
resume in about three or four minutes. I hope all                could lay the groundwork for a peaceful solution.
participants and observers will stay, because we still wish      Secondly, it recognizes the important role in Burundi of
to hear from the Ambassadors of Jamaica, Namibia,                the Secretary-General, his representatives for the Great
Ukraine, Malaysia, Russia, Bangladesh and the Netherlands.       Lakes region and the United Nations in general. Thirdly,
                                                                 it stresses the importance of national dialogue leading to
     The meeting was suspended at 11.50 a.m. and                 national reconciliation, and emphasizes the need for the
     resumed at noon.                                            immediate cessation of hostilities.

      The President: President Mandela has asked me again              Against that background, my delegation welcomes
to convey his deep regret that he could not stay for the         the internal consultations which have already begun in
entire meeting; I have promised him that we will provide         earnest. We support President Mandela’s determination
him with the texts of the remaining statements.                  that the process should be made as inclusive as possible,
                                                                 and we are pleased to learn of his offer to visit Burundi.
      I should like to inform the Council that I have
received a letter from the representative of Burundi, in               The reports of renewed violence, including attacks
which he requests to be invited to participate in the            on civilians, must compel us to act decisively and quickly
discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In               in resolving the conflict. We must emphasize that there
conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the          can be no viable military solution. We therefore urge all
consent of the Council, to invite that representative to         parties to work towards a peaceful settlement.
participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and            The appalling humanitarian situation prevailing in
rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.         Burundi must be the focus of immediate attention. Only
                                                                 last week, the Council was reminded by the United
     There being no objection, it is so decided.                 Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of the plight of
                                                                 refugees and internally displaced persons in the Great
     At the invitation of the President, Mr. Ntahomvukiye        Lakes region, largely fuelled by the ongoing conflicts in
     (Burundi) took a seat at the Council table.                 Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the
                                                                 Congo. And, as the Secretary-General reminded us, some
     Miss Durrant (Jamaica): My delegation wishes to             500,000 persons from Burundi have been affected in this
thank you, Sir, for having convened this meeting on              manner.
Burundi as part of the Council’s focus on Africa under your
presidency. We also wish to thank the Secretary-General for            In this regard, the international community owes a
his important introductory statement.                            debt of gratitude to the Governments of the region,
                                                                 particularly that of the United Republic of Tanzania,
      I wish to take this opportunity to express Jamaica’s       which have had to bear the socio-economic burden of
appreciation to former President Mandela for his decision        hosting refugees from the conflict in Burundi.
to take on the onerous task of Facilitator for the Arusha
peace process. We wish to thank him for his insightful                 The status and protection of humanitarian workers in
analysis, in which he emphasized the reasons why the             conflict situations must be given equal attention. It must
situation in Burundi must be of concern to us all. At the        be made clear to all parties that it is in their interest that
same time, I would be remiss if I did not pay tribute to the     humanitarian assistance reaches vulnerable civilians,
late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere for the tremendous efforts he        particularly women and children, who are the real victims
made to bring peace to Burundi.                                  of the conflict.

     As the draft resolution on which the Council will take           We are deeply concerned about the recent murders
action at this meeting reflects the sentiments of my             of members of the staffs of the United Nations Children’s


12

Security Council                                                                                           4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                          19 January 2000

Fund and of the World Food Programme, and we urge that           participation of all Burundian parties in the Arusha peace
the perpetrators be speedily brought to justice.                 process is of paramount importance, and we therefore
                                                                 urge them to cease hostilities and to participate
      Due recognition must be given to the fact that the         constructively in the negotiations so as to end the carnage
crisis in Burundi is deeply intertwined with the general         in that country. Only the people of Burundi, with the
situation in the Great Lakes region. My delegation believes      assistance of the international community, can bring true
that what is really needed is a strategy that will address the   and lasting peace to that war-torn country. We therefore
crisis in the Great Lakes region in a comprehensive and          call for continued assistance to the peace process.
holistic manner. We hope that the upcoming plenary
meeting of heads of State or Government within the                     President Mandela has taken over from another
framework of the Arusha peace talks will yield positive          gallant and respected son of Africa, the late Mwalimu
results.                                                         Julius Nyerere, one who played a pivotal role in the
                                                                 liberation struggle in Africa, particularly in southern
      My delegation is keenly aware that, for a durable          Africa. Who better than President Mandela can help
peace to take hold, it is essential that the root causes of      reinvigorate the Burundi peace process? He is familiar
insecurity be addressed. We therefore support the call for       with the tragic politics of exclusion because he comes
the long-term economic needs of Burundi and its                  from a country where in the past the majority were
neighbours to be tackled with the support of the                 trampled upon by the minority regime, and from a
international community, as a part of the peace process.         background where exclusion rather than inclusion was the
                                                                 order of the day. Last but not least, President Mandela
     Finally, it is our sincere hope that, under the inspired    comes from a background where ethnic division was used
and wise leadership of President Mandela, the parties to the     by the minority regime to sustain themselves in power.
conflict will demonstrate their commitment to bring peace,       But even more importantly, President Mandela hails from
security and democracy to the people of Burundi.                 a country with a leadership that has proved that it is
                                                                 possible for people who were in the past divided along
     Mr. Andjaba (Namibia): I wish to thank President            racial and ethnic lines to accommodate and accept one
Mandela for his briefing on his vision for the Arusha peace      another and live together in peace and harmony.
process. We warmly welcome his appointment as Facilitator
of the Arusha peace process. We have no doubt that, under              In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our support
his guidance and able leadership, the negotiations will reach    for the efforts of President Mandela, a distinguished son
a successful conclusion acceptable to all Burundians.            of Africa, and to wish him success.

      I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his               Mr. Yel’chenko (Ukraine): My delegation is
briefing and update on the situation in Burundi. We support      delighted to see at the Council table one of the most
his continuous efforts in Burundi and in the region as a         prominent statesmen of our epoch, Mr. Nelson Mandela.
whole.                                                           Ukraine warmly welcomes his appointment as the new
                                                                 Facilitator of the Arusha peace process. We would like to
      The situation in Burundi is at a crucial juncture, with    congratulate Mr. Mandela on the energetic start to his
violence against civilians being perpetrated by all sides to     efforts during the meeting in Arusha on 16 January 2000.
the conflict. The policy of forced regroupement is not the             We share your assessment, Mr. President, that the
answer to the violence that afflicts the country. Rather, it     current situation in Burundi remains critical and requires
brings further division among the population, escalates the      urgent action on the part of the international community.
cycle of violence and exacerbates the already dire               We praise your initiative in organizing this meeting to
humanitarian situation in Burundi. My delegation condemns        provide important impetus to mobilizing such
the inhuman policy of regroupement. It is in this light that     international action. The outspoken support of the
we reiterate our call on the Burundian authorities to cease      Security Council for the recent invigoration of the Arusha
the policy of regroupement and create conditions conducive       process is a vivid manifestation of its commitment to
to the safe return of civilians to their homes to resume their   peace in Burundi and in the entire region. We would also
livelihood.                                                      like to encourage the Secretary-General to pursue his
                                                                 efforts in enhancing the role of the United Nations in
     The Arusha peace process is the best viable option for      Burundi. Providing urgent relief assistance to those in
finding lasting peace in Burundi. In addition, the               need in Burundi is yet another major task at this


                                                                                                                         13

Security Council                                                                                             4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                            19 January 2000

particular juncture. We are calling for all Burundian parties     these personnel be afforded security guarantees, including
to ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian             freedom of movement.
assistance and to guarantee the safety and security of
humanitarian staff in the territory of the country.                     Given the large numbers of refugees and internally
                                                                  displaced persons, a situation attested to by Mrs. Ogata
     At the same time, my Government maintains that the           during her briefing of the Council last week, we call on
primary responsibility for the success of the peace process       the international community, notably the donor countries
in Burundi lies with the Burundian people themselves. In          and international humanitarian relief agencies, to continue
this connection, we have been encouraged by the                   with their generous assistance, while commending them
responsible stance of those Burundian parties that have           for the contribution they have already made in alleviating
chosen to negotiate their differences. Ukraine joins the          the plight of these hapless civilians. We are concerned
appeal to all other parties in Burundi to cease hostilities and   that further human displacement will have serious
commit themselves to a political dialogue. The draft              ramifications for peace and security throughout the Great
resolution before us today is a clear message to them.            Lakes region.

      Mr. Hasmy (Malaysia): My delegation is pleased to                As we focus on progress on the political front, we
have joined Council members in welcoming President                should not, however, lose sight of the dire economic,
Mandela and is grateful for his important and inspiring           humanitarian and social conditions in Burundi. Earlier
statement. For the sake of brevity, I will simply associate       expectations of improvements in the economy, following
myself fully with the welcoming remarks made by you, Mr.          the suspension of the regional economic embargo on
President, the Secretary-General and other Council members        Burundi, have failed to materialize, mainly because of the
who spoke before me. We also join in the warm words of            continuing violence and insecurity, resulting in large-scale
tribute expressed to the late President Julius Nyerere of         poverty, malnutrition and disease among the Burundian
Tanzania.                                                         people. The situation demands the infusion of substantial
                                                                  economic and development assistance to Burundi.
      Malaysia strongly supports the Arusha peace process
and the efforts to build an internal political partnership in           The situation in Burundi should not be seen in
Burundi. We commend the initiatives of regional leaders in        isolation from the continued instability in the region as a
the peace process. We hold the view that no party should          whole. The linkage with the situation in the Democratic
be excluded from the talks and that all cooperation must          Republic of the Congo is all too clear. The situation in
now be extended to the new Facilitator. Regardless of their       Burundi impacts on the region and vice versa. Peace in
positions, parties still outside the peace process must not       Burundi is not likely to last in the absence of overall
use their non-participation as an excuse not to agree to          regional stability.
cease hostilities.
                                                                        The responsibility for ending the conflict lies,
      My delegation is seriously concerned about the dire         ultimately, with the Burundian people themselves,
humanitarian situation in Burundi, which affects hundreds         particularly their leaders. A genuine political commitment
of thousands of innocent civilians who are caught in the          is required on the part of the leaders to work on the gains
middle. Attacks by armed groups on the civilian population        made thus far. We urge them most strongly to give
must be strongly condemned, and every effort should be            forthright and unqualified support to President Mandela
made to prevent such occurrences. We note the explanation         and to assist him in his difficult task. The parties must
given by the Government of Burundi that the regrouping of         seize the opportunity and negotiate in good faith and seek
the population was not forced and was a response to real          to rebuild a united nation under a constitution that enjoys
concerns for their safety and well-being. We earnestly hope       the widest possible support. In the search for a final
that such measures are only temporary in nature and will be       political settlement, it must, first and foremost, be
terminated as soon as possible so that the people can return      acceptable to, and meet the needs of, the people of
to their homes in safety. In the meantime, United Nations         Burundi themselves.
and humanitarian personnel should be given immediate,
full, safe and unhindered access to these camps in order to            In expressing our strong support for President
ascertain the situation at hand so as to avoid further            Mandela, we wish him every success in his efforts. We
hardships and prevent the loss of lives. It is imperative that    are particularly grateful to him for agreeing to spend his
                                                                  valuable time in retirement undertaking this difficult


14

Security Council                                                                                          4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                         19 January 2000

assignment for the sake of peace in Africa and peace in the          Mr. Chowdhury (Bangladesh): It is a matter of
world.                                                          great honour for me to join colleagues in paying tribute
                                                                to President Mandela. A man of peace and a symbol of
     Finally, I would like to commend you, Mr. President,       wisdom and forbearance, his presence in the Security
for highlighting this and other important African issues.       Council bears a special significance for all of us. In him,
                                                                the world has found the most fitting successor of
      The President: I thank the representative of Malaysia     Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to facilitate the peace process in
for the kind words he addressed to me.                          Burundi. We feel this will inspire peace in the whole of
                                                                the Great Lakes region.
     Mr. van Walsum (Netherlands): We have very little
to add to what has been said by delegations that spoke                We subscribe to the points made by the Secretarybefore us. We are concerned at the ongoing violence in          General, clearly, about the situation in Burundi and
Burundi. We warmly welcome the designation of Nelson            responsibilities of the parties concerned. Bangladesh
Mandela as the new Facilitator of the Arusha peace process.     extends unequivocal support to the Arusha peace process
We do not consider the involuntary resettlement or              and to the mandate and mission of the Facilitator. We
regroupment of rural populations an acceptable way to           endorse fully the outlines for peace in Burundi elaborated
address the security situation in Burundi, but we do believe    by President Mandela in his statement. We believe that an
that Burundi has the right to be safeguarded from cross-        agreement providing for a just, peaceful and durable
border attacks by armed insurgents.                             solution to the conflict in Burundi is both expedient and
                                                                possible.
      The Netherlands has supported the Arusha peace
process in the past. As an expression of our continuing               The presence of the Foreign Minister of Burundi at
support, we have decided to contribute another $250,000.        this meeting of the Council is important; it will afford us
Following a rather gloomy year — as far as progress in the      a first-hand briefing on the Government’s position on the
peace process is concerned — this decision was greatly          situation in Burundi. I believe he will in turn carry the
facilitated by the appointment of Mr. Mandela as the new        message from this Council back home.
Facilitator.
                                                                     We urge the parties involved in the process to
     My delegation has the greatest confidence in Mr.           persevere in their commitment to negotiate a settlement.
Mandela. As the first democratically elected President of       We call upon those still remaining outside to commit
South Africa, he personifies everything that is new in          themselves to the peace process. This task should now
Africa. As such, he seems more qualified than anyone else       commence in full earnest where it stopped last October
to convince the Burundian delegations when he invites           with the passing away of Mwalimu Nyerere. We welcome
them, as he did in Arusha, to join the modern world.            the spirit of peaceful settlement demonstrated in the 16
                                                                January meeting in Arusha, launching the initiative of
     In conclusion, I join the representatives of Argentina     President Mandela.
and Jamaica in calling on the Government of Burundi to
take effective action in identifying, apprehending and                For the negotiations to be successful, the
bringing to justice the perpetrators of the murders of United   Government of Burundi will be required to demonstrate
Nations personnel in Rutana last October.                       its sincere commitment and win the confidence of all
                                                                parties and sections of the people of Burundi. These
                                                                would be expressed in terms of respect for international
                                                                humanitarian law, as well as fundamental freedoms, civil
                                                                liberties and human rights of all citizens. The Government
                                                                will in particular have to ensure full and unhindered
                                                                access for all humanitarian personnel so that assistance
                                                                can reach those in need. The human rights observers
                                                                should also receive unhindered and unrestricted access.
                                                                The international community will judge the situation on
                                                                these parameters as well.




                                                                                                                        15

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

     At the last meeting of the Council on this subject,        peace in Burundi lies with the Burundians themselves,
views were expressed in favour of the need for contingency      and we call for an intensification of efforts to achieve this
preparations by the United Nations in anticipation of the       goal within Burundi itself and also within the
implementation of the outcome — a Burundi peace                 international, and particularly the subregional, context.
agreement. We support the idea, given the magnitude of the
humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the          From this standpoint, Russia will support
country.                                                        strengthening interaction between the Security Council
                                                                and the regional participants in the peace process. In this
      The tragedy of Burundi lies fundamentally in its socio-   endeavour, we will be guided by the assessments and
economic situation. It is there that the United Nations         views of President Mandela, who, given his status and his
should be ready to respond once the situation is ready for      prestige, is indeed a key player in the talks.
full-scale involvement. To be effective, our response should
be timely and adequate.                                               The President: I want to thank all Council members
                                                                for their support of today’s meeting and of previous
     It is in the spirit of reiterating our collective          meetings and, of course, for their excellent support of
commitment to lasting peace in Burundi that Bangladesh          President Mandela. A special thanks goes to Secretaryhas collaborated with our colleagues in the Council in          General Kofi Annan for his leadership today and his
submitting the draft resolution for consensus adoption.         participation in this entire meeting.

    Let me conclude, Mr. President, by thanking you                  I shall now make a brief statement in my capacity as
wholeheartedly for organizing this important meeting.           representative of the United States.

     The President: I thank the representative of                     The United States is deeply concerned about this
Bangladesh for his kind words and his important                 human tragedy. President Mandela’s eloquent and forceful
contribution.                                                   statement reflects the urgency of the crisis. Burundi may
                                                                be a small country, but the ramifications of the current
     Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian):        crisis are enormous. The solution we seek in Burundi is
We will join our colleagues who have spoken about               what we seek for all the conflicts in Africa — and we
President Nelson Mandela.                                       will discuss the Congo next week — a peace not based
                                                                on military stalemate, not on ethnic division or hatred, but
      Russia welcomes the designation of President Mandela      a peace based on national reconciliation.
as the international Facilitator in the Burundi peace talks.
We hope that this will help us to get beyond the standstill           The late President Nyerere, one of Africa’s greatest
in the political process. We would urge all Burundi parties     statesmen, made great progress in the Arusha process.
to cooperate closely with the international Facilitator, with   Now, with the leadership of President Mandela, we have
a view to a swift and positive conclusion of the process for    an opportunity to revitalize that effort. We support
a peaceful settlement of the conflict.                          President Mandela’s call to pursue an inclusive peace
                                                                process. In order for peace to be lasting and just, the
      Russia has consistently advocated solving the internal    negotiations must address the concerns of all parties.
conflict in Burundi through negotiations involving all
parties involved in it. We would call on all the Burundian            The United States must again condemn the policy of
parties to refrain from acts of force, which could torpedo      forced regroupment and is concerned about the conditions
the results that were achieved with such difficulty during      of the so-called regroupment camps in the vicinity of
the Arusha process. We strongly condemn attacks by armed        Bujumbura and elsewhere. I would associate myself in
groups on Bujumbura and other populated areas, which            that regard with the strong and eloquent remarks made by
cause civilian deaths. We also express our concern over the     several people here, notably Ambassador Greenstock of
continuing practice of forced displacement of civilians into    the United Kingdom. Today some 350,000 Burundians are
camps under military guard.                                     forced to live in these makeshift camps, in appalling
                                                                conditions. We understand the complexities of the
     The tense situation requires measures to stimulate         conflict, or we hope we are trying to understand them,
negotiations involving all political forces in that country.    and we have heard the justification for regroupment. But
We confirm our view that the principal responsibility for


16

Security Council                                                                                           4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                          19 January 2000

this complexity does not absolve the Government from its        international community of the actual situation, resulting
basic responsibility under international law.                   in increased determination on its part to help Burundi to
                                                                emerge from the security and socio-economic crisis that
     We urge the Government of Burundi to take the steps        has been disrupting it since 1993.
necessary to alleviate this untenable situation. It must
permit humanitarian workers to have immediate, full and              I have the honour to speak before the Council in
unconditional access to regroupment camps. It must adhere       order to present my Government’s views on security, the
to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal            peace process and the economy.
Displacement.
                                                                     Speaking first on security, compared to the years
      In this context, we welcome the statement made            1995 and 1996, when virtually the entire territory was
yesterday by the Government of Burundi that it would            engulfed by civil war, the situation in general has
review the policy and begin dismantling a portion of the        significantly improved. Overall the situation is under
camps. But this is not enough, although it is an important      control, and one can say that no national catastrophe in
step in the right direction.                                    terms of widespread massacres is really imminent at this
                                                                point. Only four provinces out of 17 still suffer from a
      We also condemn the attacks on innocent civilians,        lack of security.
who have been victimized by all the armed belligerents.
This culture of impunity must come to an end. Those who               With respect to Rural Bujumbura — one of those
have committed crimes against innocents must be brought         four provinces — the Government had to take special
to justice.                                                     security measures establishing sites, known as
                                                                regroupment camps, for the protection of the people. The
      Finally, and no less urgently, as reflected in this       underlying grounds for that decision were explained in
morning’s meeting, the international community must             detail in a statement made public on 13 November 1999.
support the Arusha process. Today’s resolution will be an
important start. But we must build on our work here, and              Clearly, Rural Bujumbura had become the focus of
our Government is prepared to do its part. I would like to      an undertaking aimed at overwhelming the security forces
announce that, in consultation with the Congress — seven        and destabilizing the capital through indiscriminate
of whose members are here today with me, two of whom            terrorism, which would have led to what could be termed
are sitting directly behind me as I speak: Congressman          the “Somalia-ization of the country”, with a resurgence of
Meeks and Congressman Ackerman — the United States is           militias and various uncontrolled self-defence
prepared to provide an additional $500,000 to facilitate the    organizations throughout the entire national territory. This
peace process. But I must be frank: no solution to the          is fact, not fiction. In that same region, genocide already
Burundi crisis will be easy. While the most vital ingredient    occurred when national security forces lost control of the
is the will and effort of the parties, no agreement will last   situation, giving the upper hand to militias and leading to
without sustained international effort. Therefore, let us do    chronic vendettas.
everything we can to assist President Mandela as he moves
forward.                                                             The Government categorically rejects allegations that
                                                                regroupment camps are part of an “ethnic cleansing”
    I now resume my functions as President of the               system or that they involve human rights violations. That
Council.                                                        is pure anti-Government propaganda and disinformation.
                                                                There is no selectivity in that province; it has the same
      I now call on the Minister of External Relations and      mixture of Hutu and Tutsi as the others.
Cooperation of Burundi, His Excellency The Honourable
Séverin Ntahomvukiye. We welcome his statement and will               The only goal of those operations was to ensure
pay it close attention, and we thank him for his patience in    security. We had to avert a national threat and to prevent
listening to the previous speakers.                             people from being caught in the vice grip of
                                                                confrontations between the army and the rebels, which
     Mr. Ntahomvukiye (Burundi) (spoke in French): The          were using them as cannon fodder and human shields.
Government of Burundi welcomes this special meeting of          Unfortunately, this is the price of State security when the
the Security Council and hopes that it that in its wake there   entire nation is at risk.
will be even greater understanding on the part of the


                                                                                                                         17

Security Council                                                                                           4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                          19 January 2000

      Currently the Government is taking stock of the                 The situation is extremely urgent. We have
security situation in Rural Bujumbura three months after the    confidence in the new mediator’s abilities in this area,
regroupment operation began. We can now inform the              and his prestige is such that he can rally all Burundians
Security Council that we will be able to close about 10 of      around our true national interests and help bring Burundi
the 50 camps within two weeks. They will be dismantled in       back into the mainstream of international solidarity. We
a fully transparent way, in the presence of national and        call on the entire international community to provide him
international monitors.                                         with unwavering support.

      I would like to reiterate once again that regroupment           I have already had occasion to express my
is not an end in itself. Absolutely all of the camps will be    Government’s concern with regard to the socio-economic
gradually dismantled as satisfactory security conditions are    situation. The needlessly prolonged and extreme economic
restored. For the national security reasons mentioned           pressure on my country due to the embargo on
earlier, the camps around the capital will be the last to be    international cooperation threatens to lead to an explosion.
closed, that is to say, after we have completely done away      That explosion would be not only at the level of society,
with any threat of destabilization.                             but also at that of security. The peace process in which
                                                                the people of Burundi and the international community
      Meanwhile, the Government, with the invaluable            have placed their hopes runs the risk of collapsing.
assistance of humanitarian organizations, is making every
effort to provide health care, food and shelter to the                The link between peace and development is now
regrouped persons. People are increasingly able to resume       more necessary than ever before. Burundi calls on its
their usual farming, trading, educational and professional      partners to review and correct their analysis of this
activities. We would reiterate that all camps are accessible    situation and to resume cooperation immediately. We see
and open to all monitors and humanitarian personnel,            no valid reason for not resuming such cooperation; even
enabling them to carry out their work there. No restrictions    reasons of insecurity are not well founded, given that
are imposed, contrary to certain untrue information that has    three fourths of the country is secure. Even less well
been disseminated, and protection is provided on request.       founded is the wait-and-see approach regularly taken with
                                                                respect to the peace Agreement and to meaningful
     It is true that overall, living conditions in the camps    progress in the negotiations, any assessment of which is
are harsh. The real and definitive solution is to stop the      far from being precise.
war. This has been the Government’s position since the
inception of the Arusha process, but the rebels also have to          I am making a veritable cry for help. Strikes began
made to understand this. The international and regional         on Monday, 17 January, this year. Looking at it closely,
communities must become involved, for the rebellion is not      it is clear that they are due not only to the increasing
only internal; it has taken root in neighbouring and even       unavailability of the minimum means of subsistence, but,
distant countries as far away as southern Africa, where,        more seriously, to the political manipulation of our poor
supposedly, the militarist option is once again gaining         citizens by extremists and those who are against the peace
support in certain countries. There the Government of           process — and they indeed exist. By continuing to
Burundi is powerless. All countries, without exception,         impoverish the population in this way, the international
must struggle against the logic of war. Military victory,       community will only serve to vindicate those people.
from wherever it might come, will not bring lasting peace       They are close to achieving their aim of bringing about an
to Burundi.                                                     indefinite halt to the peace process by instilling in the
                                                                people of Burundi a sense of distrust and disbelief in the
      With regard to the Arusha peace process, my               Government, the regional community and the international
Government welcomes the appointment of President                community.
Mandela as the new mediator. We assure him of our
honest, willing, accountable and resolute cooperation in this         The President: Members of the Council have before
process, which must be reconfigured to ensure inclusive         them document S/2000/29, which contains the text of a
participation by all the parties to the conflict so that an     draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s
appropriate pace and working method can be established in       prior consultations.
order to bring about a swift and positive conclusion.




18

Security Council                                                                                            4091st meeting
Fifty-fifth year                                                                                           19 January 2000

       It is my understanding that the Security Council is             The Secretary-General: I would, very briefly, like
ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before       to thank you, Mr. President, and the members of the
it. If I hear no objection, I shall put the draft resolution to   Council for having focused attention on this very
the vote now.                                                     important issue, and for having invited President Mandela,
                                                                  as Facilitator, to join us in our work.
     There being no objection, it is so decided.
                                                                        I think we have demonstrated to the Facilitator and
     A vote was taken by show of hands.                           to the people of Burundi and their leaders that we are
                                                                  prepared to work with them on the peace process, and
In favour:                                                        that if they work honestly and sincerely with President
     Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, China, France,                Mandela to push the process forward, the Council and the
     Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, Netherlands,               entire United Nations will be there to work alongside
     Russian Federation, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom         them. I think they owe it to the people of Burundi, to the
     of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of      region and to Africa. I hope that when next we meet we
     America                                                      will have considerable progress to report.

      The President: There were 15 votes in favour. The                The meeting rose at 12.45 p.m.
draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution
1286 (2000).

    I invite the Secretary-General to make some closing
remarks on this remarkable meeting.




                                                                                                                         19

Voting Summary
Yes: 015 | No: 000 | Abstentions: 000 | Non-Voting: 000 | Total voting membership: 015
Y ARGENTINA
Y BANGLADESH
Y CANADA
Y CHINA
Y FRANCE
Y JAMAICA
Y MALAYSIA
Y MALI
Y NAMIBIA
Y NETHERLANDS
Y RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Y TUNISIA
Y UKRAINE
Y UNITED KINGDOM
Y UNITED STATES