§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the peace process in Burundi and the assistance provided by the British Government to that process. [76899]
§ Clare ShortWe are supporting all international efforts to promote an end to conflict and achieve a secure and lasting peace in Burundi, through full implementation of the Arusha Peace Accord, as a necessary prerequisite for sustained economic development. We are at the same time helping to address the immediate material needs of Burundi's people by supporting humanitarian programmes largely through non-governmental channels.
There have been some positive developments in the on-going peace process. The Regional Summit held in Dar-es-Salaam on 7 October welcomed the recent signing of a cease-fire agreement with the Transitional Government of Burundi by two of the remaining rebel forces not party to the Arusha Peace Accord, CNDDFDD (Jean-Bosco) and PALIPEHUTU-FNL (Mugabarabona). The summit agreed an extension of 30 days to allow for the negotiation of similar cease-fire agreements with the two largest remaining rebel groups CNDD-FDD (Nkurunziza) and PALIPEHUTU-FNL (Rwasa).
The British Government have been co-ordinating with other donors to help the facilitation efforts of the South Africans, Gabonese and Tanzanians. We have committed £250,000 to this through ACCORD, a South African NGO involved in peace-building in the Great Lakes region and elsewhere. We are also providing support to peace and reconciliation activities in Burundi through other NGOs