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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-08-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Service Presse et Communicationb
29/08/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement by President Prodi on the Burundi Peace Process and on the
Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signing Ceremony at Arusha, Tanzania
[01] Statement by President Prodi on the Burundi Peace Process and on the
Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signing Ceremony at Arusha, Tanzania
On behalf of the European Commission, I welcome this important step in the
negotiations, the signing of the Burundi Peace and Reconciliation
Agreement. It is a key point in this long and difficult peace process. I
would like to praise Mr. Mandela for his efforts and commitment, as a
facilitator, in achieving this result. Our gratitude also goes to the other
Regional leaders and all the other parties who have worked to reach where
we are today. We should also not forget the efforts of former President,
Mwalimu Nyerere. From the beginning the EU has supported the peace process,
both politically and with major financial and logistical contributions. The
Commission is, further more, reinforcing the peace process by means of
"enhanced" humanitarian aid, in addition to the important amounts of ECHO
financed humanitarian aid (€24 million from 1994 up until now). The total
funds for this "enhanced" humanitarian aid are €55 million. This includes
our new Rehabilitation Programme for €8 Million (to improve the poorest
living conditions, to support the justice sector and future demobilisation
programmes and reconciliation activities ). The Commission believes that
structural aid to Burundi should resume gradually once the following
conditions are met: active engagement of all parties in the peace
negotiations and improvements in human rights and in the security
situation. The Commission is already preparing the resumption of this co-
operation at the technical level and technical missions are currently
assessing the health and rural economy sectors. Future EC support will be
focused on the implementation of the peace agreement and will look for a
new model of development for Burundi, based on the equitable sharing of the
benefits of progress amongst all Burundians. The Commission hopes that the
Peace and Reconciliation Agreement will open new perspectives for our co-
operation. However, this draft agreement is not the final result, but is an
achievement in an ongoing process, that needs still more efforts in order
to establish a lasting peace. I, personally, call on the Burundian people
to go further and overcome the remaining obstacles. The result will be
peace, security and a better life for everybody. MIDDAY EXPRESS autre
matériel à diffuser: A disposition au secrétariat de Luc Veron (BREY
6/210): - Rapport de l'OLAF
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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