YouSaid · the spoken record

Ezéchiel Nibigira

lines on the record: 50
first: 2018-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In conclusion, my country has never wavered in its belief in international solidarity, multilateralism and the rejection of muscular diplomacy. From this rostrum, Burundi reaffirms its commitment to playing its full part in building a new world order based on the rule of law and a world that is peaceful, fair, prosperous and respectful of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We make this commitment as a way of giving back because Burundi benefited from the support of other nations during the most difficult periods of its history, before the definitive restoration of peace and stability in the country. At the continental level, Burundi fully supports the African Union initiative to silence the guns in Africa by 2020, which the Security Council supported in its resolution 2457 (2019). In this regard, we are encouraged by the new positive developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the new wind of hope blowing across the Horn of Africa, and not forgetting AMISOM’s performance in restoring peace to the brotherly country of Somalia.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Accordingly, we advocate adequate, sustainable, predictable and flexible funding, including through mandatory United Nations contributions, in order to enable such Security Council-mandated peacekeeping missions of the United Nations and the African Union as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to carry out their missions correctly. Any disengagement must imperatively take into account the degree of threat on the ground, rather than withdrawing or reducing the number of troops solely on the basis of artificial durations and mathematical calculations. With more than 6,000 troops currently deployed in peacekeeping missions, Burundi wishes to reiterate, from this rostrum, its commitment to continuing to make substantial contributions to peace operations around the world.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Multilateralism is currently under threat, and Burundi, like the overwhelming majority of States Members of the United Nations, rejects the growing trend of seeking to use certain United Nations bodies, as well as political and military interventionism and unilateral coercive measures, to regulate geopolitics around the world by unconstitutional means that contradict international law and the Charter of the United Nations. With regard to peace operations around the world, although they are far from perfect and despite the challenges we continue to face in this area, they remain very useful for ensuring the maintenance and consolidation of peace around the world.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The Common African Position aims to correct the notorious injustice suffered by Africa, which is the only continent not represented on the Security Council in the category of permanent membership, and which is also underrepresented in the non-permanent category. For several years, Africa has repeatedly denounced that historical injustice, which continues to deprive more than 1.2 billion people of their legitimate right to be represented in the Security Council, with a permanent member enjoying the same privileges as current permanent members.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is now more likely than ever before that refugees and migrants will attempt to cross international borders to flee conflict, persecution, poverty and other life-threatening situations, in search of better life opportunities elsewhere. Their journeys involve considerable risks. Those who do reach their destination are frequently subjected to hostility and intolerance. The best solution to the migrant issue would be to strengthen cooperation and better distribute responsibilities. Moving on to the reform of the Security Council — a topic that has been the subject of negotiations for more than a quarter of a century — Burundi remains firmly committed to the Common African Position as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is a borderless threat that requires a global solution by tackling the root causes of the greatest evils of our times, including poverty, illiteracy, inequalities within and among States, ignorance, exclusion, humiliation and many others. Aware of the magnitude of the threat posed by terrorism today, Burundi will continue to make substantial contributions to combating terrorism in Somalia, where my country has already deployed more than 5,000 troops. With regard to the issue of migration, the sobering fact is that forced mass population displacements are a global crisis, requiring collective action from the international community.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In terms of climate, we reiterate that the planet on which we live and on which future generations will live is facing a climate crisis that is worsening day by day, with the dramatic rise of climate-sceptic leaders. The climate crisis is threatening to reverse decades of progress and undermines all projects undertaken to build inclusive and sustainable development. Meanwhile the clock continues to tick, and it will not stop and wait for us. The green and sustainable development that we want — we want it now; waiting for tomorrow would be too late. With regard to the fight against terrorism, we strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Burundi believes that terrorism cannot and should not be treated as an issue tied to any one religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic origin.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We believe that in order for the SDGs that we all adopted in 2015 to become a reality, we need greater commitment, ambition, action and above all more resources. With regard to global issues, the current session of the General Assembly provides an excellent opportunity for States Members of the United Nations to reflect on how our Organization should address new and emerging challenges. The world we live in today needs a consensual approach, now more than ever before, in order to confront such major challenges as climate change, terrorism, the peaceful settlement of conflicts, peacekeeping around the world, the reform of the Security Council, threats to multilateralism and the issue of migration.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Furthermore, given that the very heart of sustainable development is at the community level, all 119 communes in Burundi are currently in the process of drawing up or reviewing their plans for community development by integrating the objectives set forth in the SDGs and our national development plan. Like other countries committed to sustainable development, Burundi has made every effort to produce a regular follow-up report on the implementation of the SDGs and our national development plan. To illustrate the path we have taken in implementing the SDGs, including our successes, current and emerging challenges and lessons learned, Burundi has already announced to the Economic and Social Council its intention to submit to the voluntary national review mechanism in 2020.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are aware that the 2015 conspiracy plot is not dead and buried — some are seeking to revive it by subtle means that are difficult to detect at first sight but will not escape the vigilance of the Burundian people. With regard to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in addition to integrating the SDGs into our national development plans and programmes and aligning them with our national frameworks, the Government of Burundi has undertaken other practices to localize the SDGs by initiating a process of integrating them into our communes’ plans for community development, as well as through monitoring the community dynamics observed in the implementation of the SDGs.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The nature of relations between Africa and countries with a colonialist past should be redefined in order to transform the painful history of colonization into opportunities, through mutually beneficial and respectful cooperation. It is time for foreign actors to stop infantilizing the Burundian people. Burundians are a proud and dignified people, very much committed to their political independence and values of ubuntu. We are mature enough to deal with our own affairs without any foreign interference, whether from countries close to or far from our borders. Any attempt to meddle in our internal affairs without first being invited to do so will always be met by an outburst of Burundian patriotism, as was the case during the regime-change conspiracy in 2015.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Such double standards and disproportionate and unjust pressure will bring us to our knees again 57 years after the end of colonization in our country, a terrifying period from which the Burundian people are still trying to recover today. The stubbornness of some countries to abandon their neocolonial logic causes them to behave as teachers of lessons, more than half a century after the attaining of independence of almost all African countries. The bitter fact of the matter is that interference in the internal affairs of States is becoming more and more commonplace, in contradiction of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The precious time devoted to Burundi can be allocated to the many other areas of tension. The situation in Burundi should be a matter for the United Nations agencies and programmes dealing with socioeconomic development in support of national efforts to implement the national development plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We firmly condemn the unjustified political and diplomatic aggression against Burundi and its people by foreign Governments, some of which were known to have attempted regime change in 2015 through unconstitutional means. Power diplomacy must give way to mutually beneficial and respectful cooperation.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“With regard to Burundi’s presence on the Security Council’s agenda, we have always said that Burundi is on the Security Council’s agenda for political reasons and external interests that have nothing to do with the well-being of the Burundian people. The current political and security situation in the country does not constitute any threat to international peace and security so as to justify its arbitrary retention on the Security Council’s agenda. The successive meetings on Burundi that are not driven by the reality on the ground destabilize the country rather than promote peace and tranquillity. Such inappropriate meetings indirectly assist the 2015 rebels who fled the country and are sought by Burundian justice. We therefore reiterate our legitimate call for Burundi’s removal from the Security Council’s agenda.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In addition to the several thousand Burundians who are returning of their own accord, without the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, between 1 August 2017 and 23 September 77,080 refugees, comprising 25,666 households, were voluntarily repatriated to Burundi from Tanzania, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That massive voluntary return movement clearly demonstrates the restoration of peace, tranquillity, trust and stability in the country despite the comments of some foreign actors who continue to deliberately exaggerate the number of refugees still in exile in order to keep Burundi in the state of a protracted crisis.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“On the security front, the situation in Burundi is stable, calm and fully under control throughout the country. From north to south, west to east and in the centre, day and night Burundian citizens enjoy their civil and political rights in complete peace of mind. In order to preserve the hard-won peace, on 10 September His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, launched the thirteenth peace caravan, which travelled through the country’s 18 provinces, supporting at every stage the citizen-led community development projects in the areas visited. With regard to the humanitarian situation, we welcome the massive and voluntary return of the Burundian refugees who fled the country in 2015.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“For their part, the Burundian people will remain opposed, as a matter of principle, at all times, in all places and under all circumstances, to any attempt at foreign interference in handling issues within the national jurisdiction, whether by a State or a regional or international organization. My delegation would like to remind this gathering that the effectiveness of the United Nations depends on its ability to preserve the ideals that led to its establishment in 1945 in the aftermath of a deadly war. We cannot make the United Nations an organization for all if the bold interference of certain Governments in the internal affairs of other sovereign countries is dangerously tolerated in violation of the Charter that is the very foundation of our Organization.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Foreign actors who apparently want to take the dialogue issue away from Burundi seek three things: first, to destabilize Burundi on the eve of the 2020 elections; secondly, to encourage the rebels of 2015 who are now on the run, sheltered, fed and protected by the same actors who have been diplomatically and politically attacking Burundi since 2015; and, thirdly, divert the attention of Burundians from the most essential, namely, the holding of the 2020 elections and implementing the national development plan. All those external actors will have to face up to their responsibility in due course for all the consequences of their interference in matters falling within Burundi’s sovereignty. Burundians and the world are watching them.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In Burundi the dialogue between political parties towards holding peaceful elections in 2020 is proceeding smoothly in a spirit of openness and political tolerance. My delegation recalls that it was this almost continuous and effective dialogue that led to the adoption of the Kayanza road map for peaceful elections in 2020, the establishment of the CENI, the adoption of the electoral code by Parliament and the return to the country of several political leaders who had fled in 2015.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Any attempt to create a new role or redefine an existing role within the United Nations at the instigation of certain States to conduct the elections in Burundi in place of the Burundians would be an attack on national sovereignty and a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which stipulates in Article 2, paragraph 7: “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter[.]“ With regard to the calming measures to foster a climate conducive to peaceful and inclusive elections, I would mention, among other measures, first, the expansion of the political space in the country through the approval of new political parties and the promotion of freedom of expression: secondly, the decision of the President of the Republic to voluntarily waive his constitutional right to stand in the 2020 presidential elections, which is an act of great political and democratic value that could serve as an example throughout the continent and beyond; thirdly, the return and integration of refugees and political exiles returning in large numbers; fourthly, the promotion of political dialogue within the Permanent Forum of Political Parties; and, fifthly, the release at the beginning of the year of more than 2,000 prisoners, including the young rioters and insurgents of 2015.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The election campaign is to be held from 27 April to 17 May. The Senate election will take place on 20 July 2020 and the last election — the cantonal elections — is scheduled for 24 August 2020. It is worth pointing out that the electoral process in Burundi, as elsewhere in the world, is an internal matter that is exclusively an issue of national sovereignty. Any support for the process must be provided at the request of the Government of Burundi, in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. If there is support, it must not sanction any acts of blatant interference.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Without being exhaustive, I would particularly mention, first, the adoption, following extensive consultations within the Burundian political class, of the Kayanza road map, laying the foundation for peaceful elections in 2020; secondly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), which is already operational; thirdly, the adoption of the revised electoral code by Parliament in April 2019 by 105 votes in favour out of 108 votes; fourthly, the decision to fund the entire operational electoral budget without resorting to external resources, which are often unpredictable and conditional; and, fifthly, the publication by CENI of the electoral calendar for all elections scheduled for 2020. In accordance with that timetable, the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections will be held concurrently on 20 May 2020.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“National mechanisms for the preparation of the elections are already in place, while calming measures to promote a climate conducive to the holding of free, transparent and peaceful elections are steadily increasing.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Before continuing the substantive part of its statement, on behalf of the Government of Burundi, my delegation would also like to express its most heartfelt condolences and its solidarity with the peoples and Governments of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Tunisia, as well as the French Republic, following the deaths of His Excellency Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, former President and father of Zimbabwe’s independence, His Excellency Beji Caid Essebsi, former President of Tunisia, and His Excellency Jacques Chirac, former President of the French Republic, respectively. With regard to domestic policy, the preparations for the 2020 elections are well advanced both in terms of organization and budget.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, the fourth woman President of the General Assembly since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, not only for her admirable professional and personal qualities but also for the extremely professional way in which she presided over the seventy-third session that we have just successfully concluded. We also pay a well-deserved tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, and his courageous action under way to reform our common Organization in order to increase its effectiveness and credibility and make it an institution that is close to its constituents.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Allow me to extend my warm congratulations to His Excellency Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on his excellent election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth ordinary session. The great qualities and skills that we all recognize in him are undoubtedly a guarantee of the success of the work of this session, whose central theme “Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion” pragmatically deals with the key challenges facing the world today. The President can of course count on Burundi’s full cooperation in the accomplishment of his noble and laudable task. At the same time, my delegation would like to pay a well-deserved tribute to his predecessor, Ms.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“At the beginning of my statement, my delegation would first like to thank Almighty God, who has enabled for us to gather in this fine General Assembly Hall to discuss frankly the issues that we hold dear to our hearts in the name of humankind. We thank the host country and city for the kindness and well-known hospitality towards us since our arrival in this magnificent city of New York, Headquarters of the Organization. My delegation would also like to convey to Member States the warmest greetings and wishes for success at this meeting of the people of Burundi and His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, who honoured me with the task of representing him today.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“That leads us to point out that the revitalization of the General Assembly and the long-awaited reform of the Security Council are becoming increasingly pressing issues if we want a United Nations that can effectively meet the legitimate expectations of all nations. In that regard, Burundi reaffirms its commitment to the Common African Position on Security Council reform, as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus. It is time to redress the historical injustice done to Africa, the only continent that is not represented in the permanent membership category and one that is also underrepresented in the non-permanent membership category of the Security Council.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Burundi will remain committed, alongside other nations, to playing a leading role in the common struggle to build a world free of acts of terrorism. However, we remain convinced that, beyond the necessary military action, an effective fight against terrorism requires combating radicalization, which is fuelled by ignorance, poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy, injustice, humiliation and exclusion, which provide terrorism with the ideal prey and all it needs in order to materialize and spread before our eyes. In conclusion, my delegation would like to note from this rostrum that the realities and demands of the current world require us to adapt our global governance to the new challenges of our ever-changing world.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We welcome the fact that those new peace initiatives coincide with the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace that we adopted in the political declaration of 24 September (resolution 73/1) in this very Hall. The lack of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the current status quo are contributing to insecurity and destabilization in the Middle East. The international community must mobilize to find a comprehensive resolution to that conflict, which is more than 50 years old. Burundi supports the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, would live side by side, within secure and recognized borders, in peace and mutual respect, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. It is the only viable solution.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In order to achieve the 17 Goals that we set ourselves in 2015, two factors are needed — the political will of all leaders of Member States and the availability of adequate and predictable funding. Particular attention should be paid to supporting the efforts of the most vulnerable countries, such as the least developed countries, landlocked countries, small island developing States and countries in post-conflict situations. The quest for peace and stability concerns us all. In that regard, we welcome the recent progress made in the search for sustainable African solutions to African problems. We welcome the new positive developments for peace in South Sudan and the positive changes in the Horn of Africa.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We cannot ignore that climate change is an existential threat to the economic, social and sustainable development of Africa and beyond. Without immediate and coordinated action, it will be much more difficult and costly to adapt to the future consequences of those changes. Each State member of the Organization must urgently respect its freely made commitments within the framework of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In the same vein, developed countries must honour their commitments to finance the adaptation of Southern economies to the effects of global warming. The SDGs are a call to action for all poor, rich and middle-income countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“At the end of its meeting in New York on 25 September, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union issued a communiqué reiterating the call of the previous AU Summit to lift politically motivated sanctions in order to create conditions that would foster socioeconomic recovery in the country. On the same occasion, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union welcomed the return of peace and stability to Burundi. With regard to global challenges, Burundi believes that migration issues must be resolved in a constructive and concerted manner among all Member States. Burundi fully supports the ongoing process within the Organization we share to adopt, in December 2018 in Marrakech, Morocco, a global pact for safe, regular and orderly migration.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Government of Burundi therefore calls on all bilateral and multilateral partners to consider those goals in their projects aimed at supporting the Burundian people and helping us to implement our plan. With regard to the unilateral economic sanctions that the European Union’s partners have imposed on Burundi in the aftermath of the 2015 election fever, my delegation would like to inform the international community that the context in which those sanctions were imposed has fundamentally changed. My delegation also notes that, following the undisputed return of peace and security to the country, the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in early July in Mauritania, adopted a resolution calling on the European Union to lift the unjust and immoral sanctions against Burundi.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a priority for Burundi. The Government of Burundi has just adopted a 10-year plan, the Burundi national development plan 2018-2027. The plan aims to restore the structural balance of the Burundian economy through the strengthening of food self-sufficiency and export diversification through the promotion of agro- industrial, commercial and extractive enterprises. We need to develop the energy and craft sectors, build and maintain infrastructure to support growth, improve access to basic social services, including education, health and social protection, continue environmental and regional planning programmes, improve financial governance and decentralization, and develop regional and international partnerships.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to Burundi’s presence on the Security Council’s agenda, my delegation would like to reiterate its strong appeal to the Council to have the courage to remove Burundi from its agenda. It should be noted that the current political and security situation in the country is calm, stable and fully under control. It is far from posing a threat to international peace and security, which is the Security Council’s field of expertise. The precious time that the Council allocates to discussing Burundi should be devoted to the other areas of tension and conflicts that are raging now. Burundi today should not be an item on the agenda of the Security Council. We need instead the attention of the United Nations agencies tasked with socioeconomic development in order to boost our economic recovery.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to cooperation with the United Nations, Burundi is proud to participate actively and successfully in United Nations and African Union (AU) peace missions. More than 6,000 Burundian men and women are deployed in the various peacekeeping operations, mainly in the Central African Republic and Somalia. The excellent work of our brave soldiers on peace missions, who have voluntarily chosen to sacrifice their very lives in saving the lives of others far from their homeland and in particularly difficult conditions, must be duly appreciated and commended. In order to demonstrate its growing interest in peacekeeping, Burundi is proud to have joined other nations in renewing its international commitment during the Action for Peacekeeping high-level meeting held on 25 September.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The drift towards the excessive politicization of human rights and the policies of selectivity and double standards run contrary to the principles of the universality and indivisibility of human rights. The withdrawal of some countries from the Human Rights Council should not be interpreted as a negative act. Rather, it is a momentary disavowal of the dysfunction and almost exclusive control of that body by a minority of States. For its part, the Government of Burundi remains more committed than ever to the promotion of human rights in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and resolution 60/251, of 15 March 2006, establishing the Human Rights Council. Dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect form the cornerstone of the Government of Burundi’s policy on the promotion of human rights.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to human rights, Burundi reiterates its readiness to work and cooperate with other nations and the United Nations on the promotion of the protection of human rights in Burundi and elsewhere in the world, in accordance with the rules established by the Charter of the United Nations. That noble mission will be possible only through mutually respectful cooperation, frank and sincere dialogue among Member States and the use of mechanisms accepted by all, such as the Universal Periodic Review. The dangerous trend of some States to attempt to transform the Human Rights Council into a tool for political pressure and the regulation of geopolitics in the South risks compromising the objectives set by Member States when the Council was created in 2006.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We also ask UNHCR to ensure that refugee camps maintain their civilian character, in accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Security Council resolution 2389 (2017) of 8 December on the Great Lakes region. In that same vein, Burundi reiterates its urgent appeal to all countries that host, support and maintain the fugitive rebels of 13 May 2015 to extradite them to Burundi so that they can be held accountable for their actions before the courts. Their long-awaited extradition would be a major contribution to the strengthening of the democratic principles advocated by the Charter of the United Nations and a clear rejection of any attempt to gain power by unconstitutional and violent means.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to the return of refugees, I am pleased to inform you that since 2016, more than 206,000 refugees have returned voluntarily to Burundi — including 100,000 who decided to return in 2016; 168,000 who returned to their families from January to August 2017; and 38,254 who have returned since the August 2017 tripartite agreement between Burundi, Tanzania and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). That voluntary return of refugees is continuing at a satisfactory pace. However, my delegation would like to reiterate its request to UNHCR and friends in the region to intervene because some host countries are holding our exiled fellow countrymen hostage by erecting artificial obstacles to their voluntary return home.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“On the security front, the situation in Burundi is calm, stable and fully under control, with the exception of a few cases of common-law crime. That positive observation was echoed by subregional organizations as well as by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Burundi and the Security Council in the 9 August briefing (see S/PV.8325) and the press statement of 22 August (SC/13461), respectively. That return to normalcy in the country made it possible, among other things, to hold the constitutional referendum without major incident, to accommodate a massive return of refugees and political leaders, to host several conferences at the regional and continental levels, and to host foreign dignitaries visiting Burundi.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, in accordance with the new Constitution, was also set up recently with due consideration given to the need to respect political, ethnic, regional and gender inclusiveness. Regional dynamics are continuing normally. We have reached out to contacts at the highest level since the beginning of the year. Nearby, at the beginning of this month, the former President of Tanzania and facilitator of the inter-Burundian dialogue, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa, sent his team to Burundi for constructive consultations with all stakeholders in the country with a view to organizing the fifth and final round of the inter-Burundian dialogue in preparation for free, transparent and peaceful elections in 2020.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With regard to the inter-Burundian dialogue, my delegation notes that dialogue as a means of finding peaceful solutions to political disputes has become part of our culture. Those who ask us to promote dialogue are pounding on a door that is already open. In addition to the very commendable efforts of the East African Community, Burundi has the Permanent Forum of Political Parties — an excellent platform for dialogue among approved political parties in Burundi. It is within that framework that all political parties met in the north of Burundi on 3 August to informally discuss the important issues of the 2020 elections. The meeting resulted in the adoption by more than 20 political parties of a road map for free, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2020.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Contrary to the discourse of some who had claimed that his intentions were to shape the new Constitution for his own benefit and to remain in power until 2034, that gesture of high political and democratic value on the part of our President sets a welcome example. Also at the political level, it would not be superfluous to underline that the spirit of tolerance, transparency and openness of the political space is continually being strengthened in Burundi. That is evidenced by the return and reintegration of the several thousand refugees and political leaders who had fled the country and who can now enjoy their civil and political rights without any hindrance. The liberation of more than 2,000 prisoners at the beginning of the year also formed part of that dynamic of reconciliation, social cohesion and political tolerance in the country.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“At the political level, on May 17 Burundi organized a constitutional referendum, which proceeded in a calm and orderly manner. That event was preceded by very broad consultations with the population, which enabled them to express themselves in all their rich political, ethnic, regional and gender diversity — and in complete transparency — regarding the content of the new basic law. Member States will recall that, when the new Constitution was enacted on 7 June, the President of the Republic of Burundi informed citizens and the international community that his second term of office would end in 2020 and that he was ready to support the new President, who will be elected that year.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“His death is an irreparable loss for all Africans and the entire United Nations family. We pay tribute to him for his tireless work and dedication to the cause of world peace and development. My delegation welcomes the choice of the central theme of this session, namely, “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”. That is a timely theme, as the fragmentation and polarization of the world threatens the multilateralism that we desire and which is based on respect for the rule of law and the sharing of responsibilities in managing global issues. For most of my statement, I will focus on the general situation in my country, Burundi, before addressing the current global challenges, whose solutions require concerted responses.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“As the fourth woman to assume that position out of 73 Presidents of the General Assembly, we have no doubt that she will utilize her feminine touch to make this session a resounding success. Naturally, she can count on Burundi’s full support and cooperation throughout her term. My delegation also takes this opportunity to pay a fitting tribute to her predecessor, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, for leading the work of the seventy-second session and helping us to achieve such brilliant results. We also thank the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, for the commendable actions he has already undertaken in the short time since he assumed his role at the helm of our Organization. My delegation is deeply saddened by the death of the late former Secretary-General Kofi Annan.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“First of all, allow me to give thanks to Almighty God, who has enabled us to meet in the magnificent city of New York, which is hosting the seventy-third session of the General Assembly of our Organization. Allow me also to offer the President the sincerest greetings of His Excellency Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, who was unable to make the trip to New York and has honoured me with the task of representing him. My delegation would like to add its voice to all those who preceded it in this forum to extend to Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés our warm and heartfelt congratulations on her brilliant election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)