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afrol.com, 21 September - The three Burundian Parties that had not signed the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi in Arusha on 28 and 29 August, signed the document at a regional Summit held at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday. The parties are: ANADDE, PIT and RADDES. The regional talks and signing ceremony were attended by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, host President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda and Chairman of the Regional Initiative for Burundi, Benjamin Mkapa, President of Tanzania, Pierre Buyoya, President of Burundi, and representatives of Burundian parties. Former South African President, Nelson Mandela and representatives from the UN and OAU also attended. President Kagame arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday morning to attend the talks and the signing ceremony. He received an enthusiastic welcome on his arrival in Nairobi by Kenyan Vice-President, Prof. George Saitoti and government Ministers. Speaking after the signing ceremony, host President, Daniel arap Moi expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Burundi. He called on the parties to exercise restraint and demonstrate commitment to the peace agreement. He also appealed to the UN to play a central role in the implementation process. The leaders united received a report by Mandela on the progress made on the issue of cessation of hostilities. The report observed that the Burundi army and two organizations, namely: FDD and FNL, had been engaged in negotiations on the issue of cessation of hostilities. Regrettably, despite Mandela’s concerted efforts, the parties concerned had not been able to conclude a cease-fire agreement which is crucial for the implementation of the Agreement. The Summit therefore called upon the parties to resolve the matter and sign a ceasefire agreement within thirty days. The leaders united further called on them to declare immediate suspension of hostilities pending the conclusion of the ceasefire agreement. It was noted that no agreement had been reached on the issue of the leadership of the transition. The leaders therefore urged that the issue should be resolved as soon as possible to pave way for the implementation of the Agreement in earnest. They commended Mandela’s efforts on the issue and called upon the Burundi Negotiating Parties to redouble their efforts and commitment to the process. In this regard, the summit urged all Parties concerned to resolve the issue at the forthcoming meeting of signatories to the agreement in Arusha on 25th September, 2000. The Chairman of the Regional Initiative for Burundi, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, stressed that the political and economic fortunes of Burundi lay in the successful implementation of the Arusha Agreement. He noted that peace and reconciliation in Burundi was in the best interest of the population and the region as a whole. He said that the region would continue to put pressure to bear on the Burundian parties to abide by the terms of the agreement. Source: Press Office, Rwandan Office of the President
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