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 Inter-
national 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 polit-
ical parties signed a power sharing agreement with Bu-
rundi’s Hutu majority;
Whereas, Godefroid Hakizimana, President of Burundi’s so-
cial democratic party, signed the document as a medi-
ator, working with former South African President Nel-
son Mandela;
•HRES 660 IH
Whereas of the 19 groups taking part in the talks to end Bu-
rundi’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 govern-
ment 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 Bel-
gian 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 cease-
fire agreement;
Whereas peace and a cessation of hostilities will help the ap-
proximately 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 imple-
menting the power sharing agreement as called for in the
September 11, 2000, accord: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes and commends the Hutu and
Tutsi leaders of the people of Burundi for dem-
onstrating their desire for peace by signing the
power sharing agreement;
•HRES 660 IH
(2) encourages Major Pierre Buyoya’s govern-
ment and rebel leaders to continue the cease-fire
agreement negotiations begun September 20, 2000;
(3) commends the Presidents of Uganda, Rwan-
da, and Tanzania for their presence in Nairobi and
their commitment to help their neighbor to bring an
end to the violence;
(4) commends the Government of Tanzania for
hosting 800,000 Burundian refugees;
(5) urges the United States and the inter-
national community to continue their efforts to as-
sist the encamped refugees;
(6) urges all parties to remain constructively
engaged in the peace process;
(7) urges all parties to make rapid progress to
bring into effect a peaceful and lasting solution to
the crisis;
(9) commends former South African President,
Nelson Mandela, for forging the power sharing
agreement;
(10) commends President William Jefferson
Clinton for his contributions in encouraging peace in
Burundi;
(11) encourages the United States, French, and
Belgian Governments and other Western nations to
•HRES 660 IH
remain engaged in Burundi through a cease-fire and
a final negotiated peace settlement; and
(12) urges the United States Government and
the international community to continue to work
with all parties to ensure a lasting peace that will
end the conflict in Burundi.
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