Burundi, 1992

For me it is a

great pleasure and an agreeable duty to participate in the work of the General

Assembly at its forty-seventh session. For almost half a century the United

Nations has been working to lead mankind to the more human condition of peace

and international solidarity.

Allow me to take this early opportunity to discharge the duty an honour

given to me by Major Pierre Buyoya, President of the Republic of Burundi of

conveying to Mr. Ganev, the President of the General Assembly at its current

session, a message of peace and solidarity, in keeping with the fundamental

purposes set out in the Charter. Allow me also, on behalf of my delegation,

my Government and the people of Burundi, to join other representatives in

congratulating Mr. Ganev on his election to the presidency. There is no doubt

that his distinguished qualities, together with his rich experience, will lead

to the success that everyone expects of our deliberations.

Our congratulations go also to the members of the General Committee, who,

I am sure, will spare no effort to support the President in the discharge of

his responsibilities.

At the same time I express our very good wishes to Mr. Ganev's eminent

predecessor as President, who conducted the work of the General Assembly at

its forth-sixth session with remarkable competence.

Furthermore, I should like to pay a very well deserved tribute to the

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his determination to see

that peace and security in the world are preserved.

The Republic of Burundi warmly welcomes the countries that have just

joined the family of the United Nations.

Mankind is going through a period of contrasts. Current events are

characteristic of the transition from one era to another. Indeed, the world

gives the impression that it is seeking a new balance, which, we hope, will

enable men and women to live together more harmoniously. Whereas the ending

of the cold war and the remarkable disarmament efforts have resulted in

significant progress in the field of international security, bloody conflicts

continue to tear the planet apart.

While a series of events, of which everyone is aware, is persuading

peoples to work together to achieve economic and even political integration,

nations are being torn apart by very bloody fratricidal conflicts. One has

only to consider the extremely worrying situation in Somalia to realize that

the world is still a theatre for tragedies that one cannot bear to watch.

In recent years the winds of liberty have been blowing throughout the

world, and all nations have been rising up in a crusade for human rights and

the dignity of the human person, yet men and women continue to be deprived of

elementary rights the right to life, the right to a homeland and the right

to development. This is the case in South Africa, where apartheid, even in

its death throes, continues to claim victims, and where people, here and

there, continue to be deprived of a homeland.

While steady scientific progress is enabling mankind to master natural

forces and is preparing him to subdue other planets, men and women continue to

wallow in deprivation. This is especially true of the African continent,

where ignorance, hunger and sickness still reign on a grand scale. The

picture so eloquently presented by Abdou Diouf in his capacity as President of

the Organization of African Unity fully conveys the concerns of Africa and of

Africans, and we agree completely with what he said.

At the Rio Conference the international community took a major step in

its awareness of the need to preserve the quality of the environment on Earth,

which is our common home. Paradoxically, however, as we seek means of

subsistence we continue to destroy things that we need to enable us to live

and breathe. This becomes more and more evident when we look at the intimate

relationship between the environment and development a relationship that the

Rio Conference very rightly set out for us.

We are living in an era of paradox. On one hand, it seems that the world

has been moving ahead at full speed in terms of peace and security, freedom,

well-being and progress, but, on the other hand, we are witnessing war,

poverty, hunger and misery. In these conditions mankind has no chance of

making progress. Thus the objectives set out in the Charter of the United

Nations are still relevant.

In this the last decade of the twentieth century we must show that we are

determined to preserve international peace and security. We must also

demonstrate greater solidarity, as an injury to the little finger causes

suffering to the entire body. Like the illustrious founders of this

Organization, we must proclaim our faith in a better world and must turn the

United Nations into an Organization capable of maintaining international peace

and security and of ensuring justice and respect for human rights.

Moreover, the Organization must be able, in accordance with its Charter,

to promote social progress and better standards of life for all peoples of the

world. The Republic of Burundi therefore pays a tribute to all those who are

striving daily to maintain peace in the world and welcomes the signs of

solidarity whereby all peoples may be enabled to live life to the full, in

keeping with the aspirations and values that underlie the United Nations.

In that connection, the report "An Agenda for Peace" submitted to the

General Assembly by the Secretary-General deserves the international

community's close attention. For its part, the Republic of Burundi reiterates

its faith in the United Nations Charter and its commitment to work with the

international community in achieving the triumph of its ideals.

The rostrum of the United Nations, which is provided to us each year, is

a special place for dialogue and exchanges of views that enable us better to

understand one another and share our experiences. Allow me, therefore,

briefly to share with representatives the principal paths that my country has

decided to take in rebuilding and making its modest contribution to the

realization of the Organization's goals.

In the not-too-distant past my country went through some tragic

experiences caused by continuing divisive conflicts, essentially ethnic. They

were followed by tragedies that resulted in loss of human life and a large

exodus of refugees seeking asylum in neighbouring countries and elsewhere in

the world. That situation had a serious effect on social relations. Rancour,

mistrust and hatred took root in the hearts of brothers and sisters who should

have been living together in a single, age-old nation.

It was in this context an uneasy one, to say the least that on

3 September 1987 the people of Burundi rose up to change the unhappy course of

their history. Five years later, I am pleased to announce that Burundi is

once again a united nation. Indeed, with the proclamation of the Third

Republic, Burundi has turned the page and is now embarked upon the

construction of a new society of peace, justice and social harmony. Under the

dynamic and farsighted leadership of Major Pierre Buyoya, President of the

Republic, the people of Burundi are in the process of burying once and for all

the quarrels and divisions from which they have suffered for so long. To

achieve that goal, the Government has based its actions on three fundamental

factors: national reconciliation, democratization and development.

First, the people of Burundi set out to realize internal reconciliation.

To remove the divisions that had rent the fabric of Burundi society, the

people determined, with a supreme effort, to pull themselves together and

experience the forgiveness of national reconciliation. Witness to this is the

proclamation of faith contained in the Charter of National Unity, in which

Burundis, with historic conviction, stated:

"We are determined to break with the past and to embark upon a new era in

order to build a more promising future free of hatred and mistrust."

The national reconciliation now achieved has been the result of a

complete process. The first requirement was to engage in an examination of

conscience, which inspired Burundis to join together and to tell themselves

the truth. That process began with the establishment of a National Commission

made up of citizens of all ethnic groups, all regions and all religious and

socio-professional sectors. The Commission's task was to diagnose the disease

of division and then to propose appropriate cures. After seven months of

arduous work the Commission submitted a report setting forth an analysis of

the situation and proposals for a better future.

However, as President Buyoya has so pertinently said, the construction

and deepening of a people's unity cannot be accomplished by the President of

the Republic alone, nor by his Government. Therefore, based on the

Commission's report, a national debate on the important question of national

unity was organized among ill sectors of society.

In making such a thorough examination of a subject so long taboo, the

people of Burundi has discovered the virtues of dialogue and joint effort,

elevated into a form of government. The national debate was crowned with the

creation of the Charter of National Unity, which was adopted with the support

of more than 89 per cent of the population in a referendum held on

5 February 1991.

Since that time the Charter of National Unity has become the pre-eminent

point of reference for all of the nation's political life and a pact by which

all Burundis have sealed an alliance to consolidate their regained unity.

With the Charter we, the people of Burundi have proclaimed our faith in

lasting national unity and condemned and forever rejected all divisions of any

kind. We have thus committed ourselves to uprooting from our society any

tendency to violence, physical extermination and vengeance.

More positively, we have committed ourselves to rigorous respect for the

ethic of national unity. This is translated into respect for human life, the

promotion of justice and the safeguarding and consolidation of peace and

security.

In parallel with that process, which was aimed principally at reconciling

hearts and minds, the process of consolidating national unity has been marked

by a series of specific measures undertaken with a concern to administer the

State in keeping with the ethic of national unity.

In October 1988 the President of the Republic established a new

Government called the Government of National Unity, whose composition reflects

the concern of high-level State authorities to bring all elements of society

into the management of public affairs. The Government has the political

mission of stimulating a new spirit in all sectors of national life. At every

level of society responsibilities have been entrusted to citizens from all

walks of life, without any discrimination whatsoever. In this undertaking the

Government has given pride of place to other values cherished by the Third

Republic: equality of all citizens, the cult of excellence and total

transparency in the management of public affairs.

With national unity regained and national reconciliation an accomplished

fact, we are able give all due attention to grappling with the thorny problem

of refugees. Everyone agrees that the fact that there are so many millions of

refugees throughout the world is a result of internal or inter-State conflicts

that Governments have been powerless to resolve. Furthermore, the

international community owes a big debt to the refugees, inasmuch as its

inability to manage harmoniously has led to the violation of a basic human

right, the inalienable right to live somewhere in one's homeland, with no risk

of having no home.

Fortified by those convictions, and having laid the foundations for

domestic peace, the Government of the Republic of Burundi has undertaken a

vast programme of voluntary repatriation for Burundi refugees. It feels that

voluntary repatriation is by far the best lasting solution to the refugee

question. Thus, in carrying out this work of national reconciliation our

country's highest bodies have offered those of our compatriots who have gone

into exile the opportunity to return freely to their country. In so doing,

our ambition is to see that soon no Burundians will be living with the

degrading label of refugee.

From this rostrum and before the entire international community, I should

like to repeat what Major Pierre Buyoya, President of the Republic, said, and

solemnly reiterate my Government's appeal to all refugees from Burundi,

wherever they may be, to freely return to their homeland. We shall welcome

them with open arms.

I am pleased to note at this point that the results already achieved in

this programme are extremely encouraging.

In 1988, following the unrest that disrupted peace and security in two of

our communities, we succeeded in repatriating approximately 50,000 people who

had moved to neighbouring countries. Thanks to the assistance of the

international community, we were able without difficulty to set them up again

on their own land, to build new homes for them and to help reintegrate them

into our production networks.

In that same spirit, my Government is continuing to welcome those of the

refugees who left their country some 20 years ago that freely choose to return.

Even as we speak, more than 25,000 of them have already returned home,

and others continue to arrive.

Thanks to national and international solidarity, those who were

repatriated have rejoined society in complete dignity. The Government has

made an inventory of all available lands that could accommodate them, and they

are being given assistance that allows them to meet their needs until they can

subsist on the fruits of their own labour. In collaboration with local

administrative authorities, they are receiving all the help necessary to build

a decent home, and they even have health insurance so that they can easily

obtain health care. Their children have been integrated into the school

system, and those among the repatriated who have some training are receiving

all the help needed to secure a position in the work force.

I take this opportunity to thank the countries and the organizations that

have supported us in carrying out this programme, and we also appeal to the

international community to continue to help us in this process, of which my

people are so proud.

In sealing this pact of national unity, the people of Burundi placed

special emphasis on the absolute need to see to it that the management of the

State is democratically assured. That is why, in keeping with the

consolidation of national unity, Burundi has undertaken to democratize our

institutions.

I would be remiss not to share with the Assembly information about the

steps that my country has taken. This was for us an original move, and we

have every reason to be satisfied with it. Indeed, in this process as well as

in the one that led to national reconciliation, the Government has always been

careful to involve all segments of the population. Through frank and sincere

dialogue with the people, the political class has always been honest and wise

enough to put itself in the hands of the people, being convinced that no work

can last unless the citizens are involved, for in the final analysis they are

the ones who do the work and who benefit from all changes.

Thus, throughout all of last year the people were closely involved with

drawing up a new constitution, which was subsequently adopted by referendum on

9 March 1992 by more than 90 per cent of the population. The new constitution

establishes a multiparty system and gives special attention to respect for

fundamental human rights.

In this way, Burundi has put an end to 26 years of a single-party system

and has restored order, serenity and national harmony. Since that time, the

Government has worked to implement the guidelines contained in the

constitution.

The process of effectively implementing pluralism was accelerated in such

a way that today, seven political parties are already on the political scene.

Appropriate legislation was also passed promptly to promote the right to free

association and freedom of the press, which are indispensable foundations for

a vital multiparty system.

In terms of human rights, independent leagues have been established. In

this particular area, which is very dear to us, we have just established a

centre for the promotion of human rights whose mission is to instil into

society, through teaching and various means of communication, the values that

underlie respect for human dignity.

In Burundi, the democratization of our institutions is therefore

proceeding in this manner, and the Government is strongly determined to keep

moving forward. That is why, in keeping with the guidelines that the

President has already laid down, the Government is planning to hold general

elections in the early months of 1993. Once the constitution has clearly

defined the institutional structure that is to guide the country and the

competing partners, that is, the political parties, are on the scene, we

believe that it would be a reprehensible step backwards to prolong this period

of transition indefinitely.

Our intention is to give to a sovereign people the opportunity to speak,

so that they can democratically elect the leaders of their choice. We do so

in what we term the Burundi way, that is to say in complete openness, through

dialogue and joint efforts.

I should not like to take advantage of your kind attention. Sir. None

the less, I should be remiss if, before ending my statement, I did not mention

what we consider to be a pillar of unity and democracy that is, development.

I should not like to take advantage of your kind attention. Sir. None

the less, I should be remiss if, before ending my statement, I did not mention

what we consider to be a pillar of unity and democracy that is,

development. Speaking of national unity, we say that unity and development

are inseparable realities and that it would be difficult to achieve one

without the other. The same is true of democracy. Indeed, without enjoying

the public freedoms that are the structure of true democracy, people cannot

fully express their creativity. Similarly, democratic freedoms that are not

based on the satisfaction of elementary human needs would only be wishful

thinking and would rapidly become void of any substance.

Following these principles, the Government has undertaken a series of

programmes of action for development. For a country such as ours, development

is not a difficult concept to define. Essentially, it boils down to

satisfying the basic needs of the population, such as drinking water, health

services, schooling for their children, decent homes and also food security.

To succeed in this development enterprise, the authorities of the third

Republic initiated a structural adjustment programme with the support of the

World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Implementation of the

programme is intended to stabilize the finances of our country and to

transform our productive structures with a view to achieving economic growth.

This reform, moreover, is guided by the principles of good management of

public affairs and of liberalizing the economy.

In so doing, important efforts have been made to promote the private

sector. This new manner of conducting development emphasizes the growing

disengagement of the State and the giving of responsibility to individuals and

corporations. In this framework, the Government has, since 1991, embarked

on a major economic programme to privatize public enterprises. What is

involved is the partial or total opening up of public enterprises to private

capital. It also involves restructuring those enterprises that need it in

order to be more profitable and to establish more effective mechanisms for

managing them.

The liberalization of Burundi's economy has just entered a new stage with

the creation of a free trade zone regime. This reform, intended to promote

investment in order to bring about the diversification of our exports, grants

tax and other advantages which some consider to be among the most advantageous

in the world.

Investors who so desire can come and work with us. I can guarantee that

they will not regret doing so. The political reforms that have taken place

within the framework of strengthening national unity and of democratization of

institutions have created in our country a political and social environment

which is very favourable to business.

I have given a thumbnail sketch of the situation in Burundi today. As I

indicated at the beginning of my statement, the Government and people of

Burundi are working to achieve national reconciliation. The steps we have

taken allow us to welcome our brothers and sister who were refugees and enable

them to regain their dignity by returning freely to their homeland. Thanks to

the national unity we have regained, the democratization of our institutions

is also taking place in an atmosphere of peace, order and serenity. We have

committed ourselves to ambitious development programmes in order to establish

an environment and a social infrastructure that can support social peace.

In this way, in full cooperation with the international community,

Burundi feels that it is 01 the right path, one which will allow it, moreover,

to make its contribution t) building a better world of peace, security and

international solidarity. This is the best inheritance we could leave to our

children.

How could we not in chis United Nations body give some thought to the

children, who are the future of us all? This is why we wish especially to

recall that today, 30 September 1992, marks the second anniversary of the

World Summit for Children. We express to the Secretary-General our

appreciation for the report (A/47/264) he has just submitted to us on the

follow-up to the Summit. It deserves our attention.

We should also like to take this opportunity to say that we have high

hopes that the forthcoming conference on this subject, which is to take place

in Dakar, Senegal, next November will study the issue of the future of

Africa's children.