AFRICA/BURUNDI - “A partial agreement is better than no agreement” say local Church sources in Burundi after the settlement reached by government and rebels

Monday, 19 June 2006

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides)- “A partial agreement is better than no agreement” say local Catholic sources in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, where there is some disappointment after the government and FNL rebels signed only a partial agreement on Sunday 18 June a Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). The signing of an agreement and a cease fire had been announced on Saturday 17, but because of last minute difficulties the treaty had to be revised and the singing postponed to the next day.
“Not only was the settlement delayed but it established only a suspension of hostilities pending a lasting cease-fire agreement promised within the next two weeks” say our sources. “The government’s disappointment was underlined by the fact that it was not the President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza who signed but the Internal Minister who led the government delegation” the sources say.
President Nkurunziza said he is “only half satisfied because the government was certain a cease-fire would be signed. The President never thought he would return with only a Statement on Principle”, the presidential spokesman said on Nkurunziza’s return to Bujumbura. “Dar es Salaam Statement on principle in view of achieving peace, security and stability in Burundi” is the paper signed yesterday which reads: “The sides agree to stop all hostilities and to sign a cease fire accord within two weeks” ... “after the effective separation of political wing and military wing the Palipe Hutu-FNL (Hutu Liberation Party) can ask to be accepted as a legal political party...the signing of the cease fire agreement will start the process to free prisoners of conscience and prisoners of war”.
According to the presidential spokesman the main point of government rebel dissent is the army. ''The FNL wants a new army but the government says an agreement was already signed and a reform carried out. The FNL must accept this”.
The government and the other Hutu guerrilla movement, Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD), already reached an agreement which included the formation of a new Burundian Army. The agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa in October 2003, gave FDD members 40% army officer posts and 35% police officer posts.
“Despite the difficulties the positive element is that an agreement has been reached with the FNL, considered hitherto intransigent. Let’s hope we are on the way to a lasting peace in Burundi” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/6/2006 righe 40 parole 505)


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