Summary: October 13, 2003: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union in response to the political agreement signed in Pretoria on 8 October 2003 between the Burundian government and the FDD movement (Brussels)
The European Union congratulates the transitional government and Mr Pierre Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD movement following the signing on 8 October of the Pretoria Protocol on political, defence and security power sharing in Burundi. It fervently hopes that the call issued by both warring parties for an end to hostilities will be followed by immediate action in the interests of the Burundian population.
The European Union calls on the parties to move swiftly to implement the agreement's political and military clauses and confirms its willingness to assist in Burundi's peace and reconstruction process.
The EU reaffirms its support for the MDRP (Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme), to which the Commission and the Member States are the main contributors. The European Union calls on Mr Agathon Rwasa's FNL movement to pursue the path of dialogue and asks the Burundian authorities to do their utmost to foster negotiations with that movement.
The European Union commends the facilitation job done by South Africa, which hosted the recent meetings between the government and the FDD, and appreciates the continued commitment of the regional mediators. It also expresses its political and financial support for the AMIB (African Mission in Burundi) at this crucial stage in the peace process and invites all the warring parties to play an active and constructive part in the work of the CMC (Joint Ceasefire Commission).
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.
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