Media Statement of the Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process, Charles Nqakula on the meeting of the Regional Technical Committee Meeting held in Pretoria, 12 October 2007

Pretoria - The Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process Honourable Minister Charles Nqakula convened today, the 12th of October 2007 an urgent meeting of the Regional Technical Committee to deal with matters that are threatening the project to find durable peace for Burundi. The Regional Technical Committee is comprised of representatives from Uganda, whose President chairs the Regional Initiative; Tanzania, the President of which is the Deputy Chairperson, and South Africa, the facilitating country.

The issues that were discussed in the meeting include the following:

• The walkout by the PALIPEHUTU-FNL, the last rebel movement in Burundi not to participate in the peace process, from the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM). The JVMM is the vehicle established by the Regional Initiative for the implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).
• The split within the PALIPEHUTU-FNL that has resulted in hundreds of FNL combatants abandoning their positions and seeking shelter, food, medical support and protection from the Facilitation.

The Chairperson of the Regional Initiative, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has instructed the Facilitator immediately to create Assembly Areas for the armed combatants who have left PALIPEHUTU-FNL positions.

The meeting decided, therefore, to make a further call to the PALIPEHUTU-FNL to rejoin the JVMM for a meeting in Bujumbura on the 20th of October 2007 to resume the implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.

The Facilitator will address a media briefing on Monday, the 15th of October 2007 at 2pm at the Union Buildings.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853

Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

12 October 2007