YouSaid · the spoken record

Shingiro

lines on the record: 336
first: 2013-01-24
most recent: 2019-10-30
sittings or episodes: 20
sources: un-security-council

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

“Mkapa received a visit from the Ombudsman in September in the context of consultations aimed at the resumption of the dialogue. In the same vein, the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General, who is with us this morning, recently made his second visit to Burundi and the region, during which he held open and productive discussions with national officials. During his stay in Burundi, the Special Envoy received a warm welcome, with a tropical flavour, and full cooperation from national authorities at all levels. In the same vein, at the initiative of the Chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, who is here today, Ambassadors of the greater subregion of Southern Africa met at an informal work lunch meeting. At the end of the meeting, participants agreed on the following points.”
2017-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8109 (2017) · source
“President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, who, as the Council knows, is in charge of mediating the dialogue process, has dispatched our colleague Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, his Special Envoy, from Uganda to Burundi to meet the national authorities. He was first received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Bujumbura, the capital, and then by the Head of State himself, in the interior of the country. The exchanges between the two parties were fruitful. For his part, the facilitator of the Inter-Burundian dialogue, Mr. Mkapa, held productive consultations on 7 November in Kampala with Mr. Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda and mediator of the inter-Burundian dialogue. We would like to recall that Mr.”
2017-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8109 (2017) · source
“I would also like to thank my colleague Ambassador Jiirg Lauber, Chair of the Burundi configuration ofthe Peacebuilding Commission, for his report and, in particular, for his personal involvement in the peacebuilding process in Burundi for several years. The purpose of my intervention is to share with members of the Council the new positive developments in Burundi since the previous meeting of the Council in the Chamber in July (see S/PV.8013). On the political front, the inter-Burundian dialogue continues smoothly. A new round of talks is planned in the next few days in Arusha. Contacts at the highest level through the Special Envoys have intensified in recent days.”
2017-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8109 (2017) · source
“Mr. Shingiro (Burundi) (spoke in French): On behalf of my delegation, I would like to begin by sincerely thanking you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting on the situation in Burundi. I would also like to warmly congratulate your country, Italy, on its assumption of the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of November. You, Mr. President, can always count on the full support of my delegation throughout your mandate, which you have conducting with professionalism and great attentiveness since the beginning of the month, I welcome the presence among us of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, the former interim President of Burkina Faso, Mr. Michel Kafando. Through you, Mr. President, I would like to thank him for the presentation of his report on his recent field visit to Bujumbura.”
2017-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8109 (2017) · source
“I would point out that these are discussions between two parties. Similarly, military and human rights observers of the African Union are already deployed on the ground in Burundi and are working freely without any hindrance. They enjoy the full cooperation of the very open and the observers currently on the ground Burundian Government and all its services, including are working normally. We will continue to work those ofnational sovereignty, which certain countries, together to overcome any obstacles in their path in an as representatives are aware, would not extend to amicable way. foreign observers. With regard to the deployment of additional observers, the obstacles pertain to the African Union and are budgetary in nature. We therefore call on partners to support the African Union to enable it to deploy additional observers.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“Negotiations on a new, mutually agreed host country agreement will enable cooperation to be resumed between the Government of Burundi and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which many speakers alsoreferred to this at this meeting. That dialogue is under way. We anticipate that we wil meet in the next few weeks to finalize the text to guide our cooperation, which we hope will proceed normally. As I said at the previous meeting (see S/PV.7978), keeping the Office's presence in Burundi is no longer a concern. I assure the Council that that has already been determined, and the Council can count of Burundi's commitment in that regard. The only thing left to do is to finalize the text. We call for flexibility on the part of all parties in order to reach a successful outcome to the discussions.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“During his visit, the Special Envoy, and he can attest to this, enjoyedthe legendary hospitality ofthe Burundian people and the full cooperation of national authorities, which enabled him to carry out his mission in Burundi. We expect that, given his experience in diplomacy, that his reports will uphold the principles, practices and values of the United Nations and, above all, the aspirations of the Burundian people for a political future that suits them and is tailored to their needs. The Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Central Africa and the Chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, who visited Burundi at the same time, benefited from the same degree of cooperation, attention and hospitality, both in Bujumbura and the countryside.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“The Government and development partners have been invited to engage in a sincere and frank dialogue on this topic with a view to surmounting the obstacles that persist in terms of cooperation between Burundi and some countries. As far as cooperation with our partners is concerned - and several peakers mentioned this today - we greatly value our partners. Any improvement in our relations with them is most welcome. Representatives are certainly aware that recently the Burundian Government has been working for a resumption of peaceful relations with its partners, and with the United Nations in particular. In order to mend our relations with the United Nations, Burundi expeditiously consented to the visit of the visit of the Special Envoy ofthe Secretary-General in late June and early July.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“That Council will be composed of seven individuals of integrity and will reconcile the Burundian people - with the aim of unity and equity - and will be at the forefront in upholding the Burundian values of ubuntu, ubushingantahe, hbugabo and hbupfasoni: all positive values inherent in the Burundian people. At the macroeconomic level, the balance of payments was to an extent impacted by the unilateral suspension of external direct support by some partners. In order for the country to gradually achieve balance, as the Chair of the Burundi configuration mentioned, the retreat held in Bujumbura on 12 July, which included the Government and its multilateral partners and United Nations agencies present in Burundi, recommended the provision of direct budgetary support.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“With regard to national reconciliation, the Government of Burundi, under the enlightened leadership of President Nkurunziza, set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which, as the Council is aware, marks the final stage in the establishment of the institutions provided for in the 2000 Arusha Agreement. The members of the Commission were called upon to promptly inform the Burundian people of the successes and failures of the past with a view to definitively turning the page on the politico-ethnic antagonisms that have punctuated the dark history of our country, and thereby build a bright future for present and future generations. As a complement, last week the National Assembly of Burundi adopted a draft law on the functioning of the National Council for National Unity and Reconciliation, which is a very important body.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“In addition to the return of refugees, the two Heads of State exchanged views on strengthening bilateral relations, intensifying trade among the two peoples, security on shared borders and the situation in the region overall. They welcomed the Tanzanian railway project linking Tanzania, Burundi and other countries in the region. The visit also was a testament to the interest that the Heads of State of the region attach to the regional dimension, which is crucial because we have observed in some areas that there is an increasingly wide gap between the positions of some regional actors and the positions of actors in New York. Regional actors need to be listened to. They are the ones who know us and know about our history and culture. They need to have their views heard when decisions are taken, regardless of the context.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“During his visit to Tanzania last week, the President and his counterpart in the United Republic of Tanzania made a heartfelt appeal to refugees to return to their homeland. I should emphasize that they also appealed to organizations dealing with refugees to avoid any deliberate exaggeration of their numbers and to acknowledge that more than 150,000 refugees have already returned to Burundi. In that regard, we call on countries that are hosting refugees - and which I would like to thank, incidentally - and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees to cooperate fully in order to facilitate their voluntary return home, since some of them have been held hostage for purely political and business purposes or to maintain or fuel a crisis situation that is increasingly more artificial than real.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“With regard to refugees, our Head of State has asked the Burundi Ombudsman to continue with efforts to raise awareness among refugees and non-violent political actors about returning home in order to prepare for the 2020 election deadlines. We know that the repatriation of refugees is a marker of subregional stability, and it has now been admitted that some of those who fled the country, including minors, were recruited, trained, supervised and enrolled in anti-Burundi rebel movements, all of it in flagrant violation of the Charter, the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region of 24 February 2013.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“Ofthe three or four private media outlets that were partially destroyed in the wake of the foiled coup d'etat of 13 May 2015, two have already reopened and the others are functioning normally. Today more than 20 national and international private radio stations are broadcasting freely in Burundi, and we will continue working to improve things in an area that is so essential to the promotion of democracy in our country. We are trying as best we can to find a good balance between the protection of human rights and the consolidation of the rule of law. We are also pleased about the fact that no journalists are imprisoned in our country, contrary to what we see elsewhere.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“The President has ordered the release of more than 2,500 prisoners, in addition to the 3,416 released in 2015, the 6,136 in 2016 and, very recently, the 2,247 in 2017 from among the 2,500 who, as the Council is aware, received a presidential pardon at the end of 2016, a commendable measure that deserves the Council's support and to be recognized as a gesture of peace for Burundians. With regard to the freedom of the press - and contrary to the pronouncements of various politicians and journalists who, as the Council is aware, describe Burundi as they wish it to be rather than as it is - the Government of Burundi has never shut down any private media outlets.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“We firmly believe, and will continue to insist, that only international cooperation and a mutually beneficial partnership that respects the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations can make an effective contribution to the genuine protection of human rights in Burundi or anywhere else. Excessive or selective political pressure should give way to cooperation and dialogue. My country has promised to continue working to make progress and improve its cooperation with all good- faith actors in this area. We cannot speak of the state of human rights without mentioning the prison situation. We have taken steps to reduce crowding in the prisons and, more recently, to promote national reconciliation.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“Peace and security reign, thanks to excellent cooperation between the forces of law and order, the Administration and the people. Where anything else is concerned, we all know that ordinary criminality is as old as humankind, and like everyone else, Burundi has to deal with it every day. On the human rights front, it is generally agreed that no country in the world is so perfect in this area that it is in a position to lecture others about it. Just like other countries, and in what we should remind the Council is an especially difficult post-crisis environment, Burundi is continuing its efforts to promote human rights and ensure that they are protected.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“With regard to constitutional matters, we should recall that this issue is exclusively in the domain of national sovereignty and should be discussed only within a national framework. As the Council is aware, no one has the right to deprive the Burundian people of their sovereign right to define a political future that suits them and is tailored to their needs, and that applies to all the peoples we represent here. Turning to the issue of security, we all know that it is central to every issue, since no development is possible without peace and security, and vice versa. Burundians are devoted to peace and equality and are absolutely determined in their commitment to safeguarding peace night and day. Our country is now calm, as all those who spoke here this morning have acknowledged.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“In that regard, the President has asked civil-society groups to refrain from involvement in political affairs and from deeds or words that could sow division and dissension of any kind or become an incitement to killing such as we saw during the insurrection in 2015. Rather, he urged them to concern themselves with the welfare of the population, including by giving support to his efforts to restore society and community. He also appealed to religious leaders to continue with the mission that God has entrusted to them by preaching the gospel throughout the country and refraining from political acts that could turn them away from the path of righteousness, and encouraged them to continue to get involved in the country's development efforts and in the promotion of human rights and the values of ubuntu in Burundi.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“That is why our President has asked Burundi's political parties, which today number around 30, to regroup, conduct an in-depth review of their internal policies on unity and discipline and raise awareness among their militant adherents about the importance of remaining united and respecting democratic principles. He has advised them to totally reject divisiveness, refrain from any provocations or manoeuvres that could goad them into murdering one another on the pretext that they have different political or social affiliations and, as far as possible, avoid polluting Burundi's ever-changing political space.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“We remain convinced that by strengthening democracy in a country like ours, which is still working to build peace, justice and security, there is no solid pillar on which the rule of law can rely other than the holding of free, peaceful and transparent elections. Any alternative attempts to take power through unconstitutional shortcuts are unacceptable and will go nowhere. The coups d'etat that Burundians have experienced in the past represent the nightmare that they are trying to wake up from today. Since the democratic elections of 2005, that dark chapter of our history has closed, a hopeful one has opened and we are gradually building a culture of democracy, despite a number of new challenges that we still have to tackle.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“The recommendations of the report are the result of a dialogue involving more than 26,000 Burundians, and they will be combined with the conclusions of the dialogue process at the subregional level to eventually produce a solid road map for peaceful elections in 2020. Meanwhile, another promising dynamic of internal dialogue among all stakeholders is ongoing under the facilitation of the Burundian Ombudsman. It is following a positive trajectory and has already organized several inclusive dialogue workshops with our partners in Bujumbura. All of those processes complement each other without competition, thereby strengthening the culture of dialogue in our country.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“I shall also say a word about freedom of expression, refugees and reconciliation, as well as the efforts of the Government of Burundi to rebuild the frayed confidence of some of its development partners. With regard to the political situation, I am pleased to inform the Council that the inter-Burundian political dialogue process is ongoing, with some progress made. The dialogue has not stalled, as some people would have us believe; it is following an evolutionary path. The internal process, which was led by the Government-established National Commission for the Inter-Burundian Dialogue has ended and a final report has been sent to the national authorities.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“My thanks also go to Ambassador Jurg Lauber, Chair ofthe Burundi configuration ofthe Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) - who, as he noted, has just returned from a field visit to Burundi from 10 to 13 July - for his ever-increasing role in mobilizing resources in support ofBurundi's socioeconomic sector. I hasten to welcome the presence of His Excellency Mr. Michel Kafando, who has just provided his first briefing to the Council since his appointment as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and his first visit to Burundi, from the end of June to the beginning of this month. In my statement, I shall stress the political, security and human rights situation.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“Mr. Shingiro (Burundi) (spoke in French): As this is the first time that I am speaking under your presidency, Sir, I wish to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and to thank you for the invaluable support that your country, the People's Republic of China, continues to provide to African countries in general and to my country, Burundi, in particular, especially in terms of respect for the sacred principles and values of our common Organization. We are very grateful for that. Allow me also to thank the other members of the Council for their ongoing support for Burundi's sovereignty and political independence since the outbreak of the insurrectional movement in 2015 and the attempted coup d'etat on 13 May 2015.”
2017-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8013 (2017) · source
“The Burundian people must learn about their history before definitively turning the page of their painful past. In that respect, we advocate once again for maintaining support for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which has a major role to play in seeking truth, fixing broken hearts and genuinely rewriting our history, which has always been deliberately falsified.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“President, the repatriation of refugees is an indication of subregional stability. It is recognized that, some of those who fled their country, whether for economic reasons or because of rumours of an impending war, were recruited, trained, supervised and then entered the stillborn ranks of rebel movements against Burundi, in flagrant violation of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees and other international laws, as well as the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, of 24 February 2013. Our third and last challenge is national reconciliation. The need for a successful conclusion to the process of national reconciliation through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is extremely important for us Burundians.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The second challenge is the return of refugees. The Government of Burundi has undertaken a wide-ranging awareness-raising campaign for refugees to encourage their voluntary return. Local administrations also have a duty to supervise the land and property of those who have left, so as to avoid conflict when they return. As a result of those efforts and renewed peace, I emphasize that 156,000 refugees, which no non-governmental organization or foreign actor has spoken about and which include some political party leaders, recently returned to their homes. The Head of State has just asked the Ombudsman of Burundi to continue awareness-raising efforts for refugees and non-violent political actors for them to return to their country in preparation for the 2020 elections. As you know, Mr.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to briefly share with the Council the three challenges that Burundi is currently facing. First, it is clear that the economy is Burundi's greatest challenge. Poverty continues to fuel political instability because politicians manipulate young people who are frustrated by the lack of guarantees for a better future. Burundi, like other countries, is trying to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Political discussions should not take the place of discussions on economic and social aspects. Everything must be done in parallel with the three pillars of the United Nations, which constitute our foundation. I welcome the new approach of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, which since November 2016 has tended to emphasize socioeconomic recovery.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“Keeping the Office's presence in Burundi is therefore a foregone conclusion and should no longer be a major concern. The only thing left to do is to finalize the host country agreement. Still with its contribution to United Nations activities in mind, Burundi continues to participate actively in peacekeeping operations in other countries, with approximately 6,500 troops on the ground, mainly in Somalia and the Central African Republic. Our participation in peacekeeping around the world is one way we can give back to the international community and the United Nations, which have always supported us at difficult times in our history. And it follows that Burundi also expects its partners to make reciprocal efforts to ensure peace.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The Government of Burundi stands ready to cooperate fully with him in full respect for the principles and values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. In its eagerness to restore the trust that had been lost among some of its partners, Burundi also recently swiftly approved the appointment of the new United Nations Development Programme country representative and Resident Coordinator of United Nations agencies with a view to contributing to its sustainable development efforts. The process of negotiating a consensus on a new host country agreement that will enable cooperation to be resumed between the Government of Burundi and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is following the normal course and should be finalized in the near future with the consent of both parties.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“Burundi will never give in to unjust pressure from those who want to wrest from it the three values that are the very foundation of our nation. Burundi may be a small country, but it is also a great nation that treasures its sovereignty and dignity. With regard to cooperation, this time with the United Nations, the Government is working to restore peaceful relations with its development partners in a spirit of mutually beneficial and respectful partnership. It was in that spirit that Burundi gave quick assent to the appointment of Mr. Michel Kafando as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and has also just confirmed his first visit to Burundi so that he can meet directly with the national authorities.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“So claiming to produce a report on a country's human rights situation based solely on refugee testimony is simply all the more likely to diminish that mandating body's credibility. I should also point out that the avalanche of biased and politically motivated reports that have emerged since 2015 with the intention of damaging my country only add fuel to the fire and help to destabilize Burundi rather than pacify it. The crisis that some external actors continue to speak ofis now more artificial than real, and it is therefore high time that the political and diplomatic harassment that Burundi has endured since 2015 came to an end and gave way to cooperation. To the outside forces that continue to harass the Burundian people directly or by proxy, I say that Burundi's sovereignty, unity and dignity are priceless.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“As far as we are concerned, a fact-finding report on the human rights situation produced without evidence gathered on the ground and based solely on the testimony ofrefugees and information collected from social networks is pure theatre, aimed at achieving the regime change that the same well-known axis desires so much. Besides that, having been a refugee myself, I do not know a single refugee anywhere in the world who speaks well of the politics of his country of origin. That applies all the more when the refugees being interviewed are the same people who have taken part in incursions into Burundi after undergoing military training in a neighbouring country that United Nations experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo have exposed, as the Security Council well knows.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“After several months of such sinister efforts, the regime-change machinery once again came up against Burundians' unity and decided to move to a fourth stage, still going on today, of a campaign demonizing and slandering Burundi and its elected leaders, this time through the wholesale politicization of the human rights situation in Burundi. Biased, politically motivated resolutions and reports on the human rights situation in Burundi have been regularly adopted in Geneva at the urging of the same external actors. Commissions of inquiry have been created in their wake and are putting out reports from afar, without ever setting foot in Burundi.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The second phasewas to be a continuation ofthe experiments in mob- led regime change in black Africa that, as the Council is aware, had just succeeded in Burkina Faso and in some countries of the Maghreb. Thanks to Burundians' unity and patriotism, the mob insurgency failed. The destabilizing machinery then switched to plan B through its planning and financing of the coup of 13 May. Like the first plan, the coup d'e'tat failed miserably, thanks to the overwhelmingly patriotic majority of the forces of law and order. The third plan was to use both internal and external actors to create death squads, whose mission was to conduct targeted killings in both camps with the goal of dividing Burundians and getting them to retreat back into themselves.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“On top of that, a humanitarian war is being planned behind Burundians' backs, as if the recent successive failures of this type of interference disguised as humanitarian assistance in Africa and elsewhere have not been lessons enough in ending such aggressive behaviour for good. Basically, every possible strategy has been employed since 2014 to effect regime change in Burundi. The plan to destabilize the country was carried out in several stages, each supported by a plan B in case of failure. It all began with the creation of some confusion in interpreting the Constitution, and thereby flouting the authority of Burundi's constitutional court and the East African Court of Justice, which had validated the legitimacy of the candidacy of Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“It is no longer even an open secret that everything that has happened in Burundi since 2015 is the result of a meticulously conceived plan to destabilize Burundian institutions by known outside elements. One example of this, among many others, is the European Union contract documents assisting the financing and evacuation of the key players - who recently fled - in the 2015 insurgency that led to the failed coup d'e'tat of 13 May 2015. The numerous Council members that do not have a hidden agenda where Burundi is concerned have the right to understand that reality.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“We must definitively foreswear politicization, selectivity, bias and subjectivity in the process of human rights protection. Only international cooperation and a mutually beneficial partnership that respects the foundational pillars of all States, namely, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, can contribute to the genuine protection of human rights in Burundi and elsewhere. In that regard, I would like to cite an authority from a State that is a member of the Security Council who said only a few days ago that "if our human rights laws get in the way" of their leaders' ability to ensure their citizens' security, they "will change the law so we can do it" in order to adapt to the current situation. That may be an approach that works for other countries dealing with terrorism and serious crime as well.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“We are also preparing to host the fifth annual ECA Secretary General's Forum for Private Sector, Civil Society and Other Interest Groups, from 22 to 23 June 2017, and the Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, in October 2017. In the area of human rights, which I think is the most sensitive topic for everyone, Burundi, like other nations in the world, is continuing to make efforts to promote and ensure the protection of human rights. It is an ongoing battle for everyone, including for the Government of Burundi, which is committed to fighting for the protection of human rights so as to meet the remaining challenges in this area. In order to achieve that end, it would be best not to point fingers, but rather to adopt a cooperative approach.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“This return to normal security in the country has been confirmed by several regional and subregional organizations, such as the East African Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the African Bar Association and the African Union. Following the return to peace, several regional meetings, including that of the East African Standby Force, in February 2017, the ECA Health Ministers meeting, in March 2017, and the eighth ECA Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, from 7 to 9 June 2017, have been held successfully and peacefully in Bujumbura. This reflects the region's confidence in the Burundi authorities.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“There is no longer a political crisis in Burundi in the true sense of the term. Let me explain this to you, Mr. President. A political crisis is the absence of institutions or institutional paralysis or general insecurity in a country. Burundi has none of that today. The democratically elected institutions function normally from top to bottom. Security in the country is real. We are today managing the political and economic consequences of the 2015 crisis through dialogue about those consequences and by mobilizing domestic resources and winning back the trust of partners so that we can address the economic consequences of the crisis. That is what is at stake.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“In recent months, the Burundian Ombudsman has increased the number of meetings among all the parties involved in the peace process, in the form of retreats and what we call political coffeehouses. The next retreat is scheduled for tomorrow - 21 to 23 June. This internal dynamic is supported at the highest level by the Head of State and should be supported by our partners as well. With respect to security, the shared view is that security in Burundi is good throughout the territory, except in a few isolated cases. The fact that a grenade is thrown once every six months is not a cause for concern about security in Burundi just because we see such occurrences elsewhere. The country as a whole is calm, with citizens and foreigners residing in Burundi calmly going about their business.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The international community's contribution should be limited to providing assistance. Secondly, the social and economic aspects must continue to receive the attention of Burundi's development partners. Just as the recent EAC Summit did, the Permanent Representatives called for the lifting of the economic sanctions on Burundi that affect vulnerable people. My delegation hopes that this passionate appeal from the region will be heeded. Thirdly, there was also consensus on the fact that the two dialogue processes - the internal and external processes - complement one another; they do not compete. They need to benefit on an equal footing from the attention of our partners, because they constitute the very benchmarks for the road map for peaceful elections in 2020. The culture of dialogue in Burundi goes beyond those two processes.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The Government of Burundi remains very committed to the process of political dialogue. Recently, consultations at the highest level between Burundi and mediators have been stepped up and will continue to move forward. Also at the regional level, upon the initiative of the Chair ofthe Burundi configuration ofthe Peacebuilding Commission, the Permanent Representatives of the countries of the region, together with the Permanent Representative of South Africa, whose country has played an important role in the inter-Burundi peace process, met here in New York for a working lunch on 31 May. At the end of the meeting, consensus was reached on the following items. First, the people concerned and the region must retain their leadership role in the management of the situation in Burundi.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“The CNDI also met with organized groups - such as women's groups, youth groups, trade unions, accredited political parties, religious groups,journalists, students, economic actors, police officers, civil society as a whole and so on. In addition, the Commission met with representatives of the East African Community Legislative Assembly, the diplomatic and consular corps, the international organizations present in Burundi and, of course, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Burundian diaspora living in such Scandinavian countries as Norway, Denmark and Sweden. At the regional level, the East African Community is working hard to assist Burundians in finding lasting solutions to the political consequences of the 2015 crisis. Those consultations are on the right track despite some pending challenges.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“As regards the political situation, I should like to recall that, following 26 April 2015, the Government of Burundi began a process of inter-Burundian dialogue, with the facilitation of both the Commission nationale de dialogue inter-Burundais (CNDI) and that of the East African Community (EAC). On the domestic level, the Inter-Burundi dialogue has made significant progress. On 12 May, the Commission nationale de dialogue inter-Burundais submitted its final report to the appropriate parties. Since its inception, it has spent about 600 hours in listening and exchange sessions with approximately 26,000 Burundian citizens in the 18 provinces and 119 communes of the country.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“Mr. Shingiro (Burundi) (spoke in French): As this is the first time that I am taking the floor under your presidency, Sir, I should like at the outset to congratulate you personally as well as your country, Bolivia, on your well-deserved accession to the presidency of the Security Council. You may, of course, count on the full support and cooperation of Burundi throughout your presidency. I should like to take this opportunity to share with the Council the latest developments in my country at the political, security and human rights levels and the efforts undertaken by the Government to normalize relations with its partners and the United Nations.”
2017-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7978 (2017) · source
“In order to ensure the presence of the United Nations in the field of human rights, a draft cooperation agreement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is under discussion between the two parties. The Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General is also functioning. We eagerly await the appointment of another United Nations official to lead the Burundi dossier and expedite the signature of the framework for cooperation between Burundi and the Office. We commend the fruitful cooperation with the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, led by the Ambassador of Switzerland, my colleague Jiirg Lauber.”
2017-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7895 (2017) · source
“In addition to these private radio stations, international radio stations include Radio France Internationale, the Voice of America and Deutsche Welle. As regards the freedoms of assembly, opinion, association and religion, the Government has already approved more than 6,500 non-profit associations, of which more than 100 have been approved since January 2016. Fifteen non-profit organizations that had been under investigation since the failed coup d'etat of May 13 2015 were authorized to reopen. With regard to cooperation between the United Nations and Burundi, my Government's great concern is to strengthen and perpetuate our relations with the United Nations.”
2017-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7895 (2017) · source