IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 660

To commend President Clinton for supporting the efforts of former South

African President Nelson Mandela to bring peace to Burundi.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 27, 2000

Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. GEJDENSON, Ms. WATERS, Ms.

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, and Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) submitted the

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

To commend President Clinton for supporting the efforts

of former South African President Nelson Mandela to

bring peace to Burundi.

Whereas President Mandela was chosen by the international

community to lead the peace initiative following the death

of Julius Nyere, former President of Tanzania;

Whereas on September 11, 2000, 1 of 4 holdout Tutsi political parties signed a power sharing agreement with Burundi’s Hutu majority;

Whereas, Godefroid Hakizimana, President of Burundi’s social democratic party, signed the document as a mediator, working with former South African President Nelson Mandela;
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•HRES 660 IH

Whereas of the 19 groups taking part in the talks to end Burundi’s 7 year civil war, the government, the military, 7

Hutu political parties, and 6 of the 10 Tutsi political

parties signed the power sharing agreement;

Whereas intense fighting has continued since the August 28,

2000, signing of the power sharing agreement;

Whereas representatives of Major Pierre Buyoya’s government met with rebel leaders on September 20, 2000, in

Nairobi, Kenya, and a cease-fire agreement was not

reached;

Whereas diplomats from the United States, French, and Belgian Embassies participated in the Nairobi talks;

Whereas all signatories to the power sharing accord (and

those in attendance in Nairobi) should do all that they

can to continue to progress toward the signing of a ceasefire agreement;

Whereas peace and a cessation of hostilities will help the approximately 800,000 Burundi refugees living in Tanzania

to return home and help with the peace and reconciliation

process; and

Whereas the ongoing fighting threatens the process of implementing the power sharing agreement as called for in the

September 11, 2000, accord: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes and commends the Hutu and

3 Tutsi leaders of the people of Burundi for dem4 onstrating their desire for peace by signing the

5 power sharing agreement;
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1 (2) encourages Major Pierre Buyoya’s govern2 ment and rebel leaders to continue the cease-fire

3 agreement negotiations begun September 20, 2000;

4 (3) commends the Presidents of Uganda, Rwan5 da, and Tanzania for their presence in Nairobi and

6 their commitment to help their neighbor to bring an

7 end to the violence;

8 (4) commends the Government of Tanzania for

9 hosting 800,000 Burundian refugees;

10 (5) urges the United States and the inter11 national community to continue their efforts to as12 sist the encamped refugees;

13 (6) urges all parties to remain constructively

14 engaged in the peace process;

15 (7) urges all parties to make rapid progress to

16 bring into effect a peaceful and lasting solution to

17 the crisis;

18 (9) commends former South African President,

19 Nelson Mandela, for forging the power sharing

20 agreement;

21 (10) commends President William Jefferson

22 Clinton for his contributions in encouraging peace in

23 Burundi;

24 (11) encourages the United States, French, and

25 Belgian Governments and other Western nations to
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1 remain engaged in Burundi through a cease-fire and

2 a final negotiated peace settlement; and

3 (12) urges the United States Government and

4 the international community to continue to work

5 with all parties to ensure a lasting peace that will

6 end the conflict in Burundi.

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