JOINT DECLARATION: GOVERNMENT OF REPUBLIC OF

					  UNCLAS PRETORIA 001276 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C, AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KDEM BY SF
SUBJECT: JOINT DECLARATION:  GOVERNMENT OF REPUBLIC OF 
BURUNDI AND PALIPEHUTU-FNL 
 
REF: A. PRETORIA 428 
     
B. PRETORIA 775 
     
C. PRETORIA 799 
 
This cable is Sensitive but Unclassified.  Not for Internet 
distribution. 
 
					

1. The SAG hosted a meeting of special envoys and diplomatic
representatives in South Africa from June 9-10, 2008
(SEPTEL). Prior to this session, representatives of the
Republic of Burundi and the Palipehutu-FNL released a Joint
Declaration upon their arrival on June 8, 2008. Text follows.



2. Begin text:

We, the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the
Palipehutu-FNL, have come together today in South Africa to
deliver a common message of all Burundians to the
international community, on the occasion of the meeting of
the Special Envoys of the Great Lakes Region to Burundi.

This is an opportunity for us, on behalf of all Burundians,
to thank the Regional Initiative, the South African
Facilitation, the United Nations through its Integrated
Office in Burundi, the African Union, the European Union and
all other partners who are continually contributing to the
peace process in Burundi.

We have decided to end hostilities, as we are aware that the
people of Burundi have, for too long, suffered from them. On
26 May 2008, within the Political Directorate, we signed a
joint declaration by which we decided on an immediate
cessation of hostilities.

Since then, we have, within the Joint Verification and
Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM), shown our desire to overcome our
differences, and this enabled us to adopt, on 2nd June 2008,
the Joint Operations Plan, which will guide the JVMM during
the process of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and
rehabilitation. In this regard, we particularly thank the
African Union, the European Union, Switzerland and the
International Committee of the Red Cross for the food,
medical and logistics support they are providing to
Palipehutu-FNL combatants during the pre-cantonment phase.

We have also come, united, to ask the international community
to continue lending its assistance so that we can move
forward together on the path of peace for the benefit of all
Burundians.

Johannesburg, 8 June 2008.

End text.
BOST