Deputy President Jacob Zuma to Host Burundi Talks in South Africa, Pretoria, 4 - 5 August 2004

Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, 3 August 2004 announced that South Africa would host a new round of talks on Burundi to finalise an agreement on power sharing and on holding elections. The two days of talks will begin on Wednesday, 4 August 2004 at the Presidential-State Guest House in Pretoria and will continue until Thursday, 5 August 2004.

The talks will be attended by all parties in the Burundi process except the CNDD-FDD (Forces for the Defence of Democracy), who is holding a party conference. The talks are a continuation of the talks that took place in Bujumbura last week and in South Africa in mid-July under the mediation of Deputy President Zuma.

The president of the Transitional Government of Burundi, Mr Domitien Ndayizeye, will lead the government delegation, while the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Jean Minani will head the FRODEBU party and Jean Baptiste Manwangari will lead his UPRONA party. The five Tutsi parties that walked out of last week's talks have indicated that they will also be attending the talks.

Deputy President Zuma has stated that the aim of the two-day talks would be to reach agreement on power sharing and representation in parliament between Hutus and Tutsis that will be taken to the region. South Africa has been working hard to broker an agreement that would pave the way for elections by 31 October 2004, as provided for under the 2000 Arusha Accord.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082-990-4853.

C/o The Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
PRETORIA
0001

3 August 2004