Brussels, 4 March 2003 - The European
Union has taken note with regret of the communiqué by the CNDD-FDD stating
that that movement is suspending its participation in the negotiations.
The European Union wishes to emphasise
once again that there can be no military solution to the Burundian conflict.
It calls on all the Burundian parties to respect the population's
rights and aspirations, to follow the logic of the ceasefire agreements
and resume talks without delay and without preconditions, under the aegis
of the mediator.
It reaffirms its intention to continue to support the peace process and encourages the African Union and the countries of the subregion to continue their efforts to restore peace in Burundi.
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.