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