S/PV.7110 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Burundi to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2014/96, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France and Nigeria. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2014/36, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office in Burundi. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2137 (2014). I shall now give the floor to the member of the Council who wishes to make a statement following the voting.

First, please allow me to extend my Government’s deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Burundi for the tragic loss of life and property as a result of the flooding and landslides in Bujumbura this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. Burundi has made consisderable progress since its years of civil conflict came to an end. The United States has been and remains one of Burundi’s strongest partners, in particular as Burudi has become an exporter of peace and security through its deployment in international peacekeeping and stabilization missions. While acknowledging that significant progress in peace, stability and development, the current political stalemate and heightened tensions point to a continuing need for the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) to maintain a presence to continue to help consoldiate peace, democracy and national reconciliation. Last year’s media law, the recent dismissal of the First Vice-President and the constitutional amendments proposed threaten the delicate power-sharing arrangements that have enabled Burundi’s progres since the Arusha accords were signed, in 2000. The United States strongly supports BNUB’s mandates and the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General as crucial to Burundi’s continued progress in fully establishing democratic governance and ensuring stability. The Government’s continued partnerships with the United Nations mission and the Special Representative, as well as the internationl community more broadly, will be increasingly important in the lead-up to the 2015 elections, when inclusive political dialogue and compromise will be required of all political leaders and parties. We welcome the Burundian Government’s call for a United Nations presence through the entirety of the electoral process. We see this mission as playing an important good-offices role as a confidence-building and diplomatic incentive and look forward to its independent assessment of the overall political and technical conduct of the elections. We urge the Government not to attempt to go it alone through this crucial and sensitive electoral period, but to welcome the partnership and support of the international community through this United Nations presence. We look forward to the Secretary-General’s regular reporting to the Council in that regard, including on the agreed-upon benchmarks. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and the people of Burundi as a partner in the country’s peace, stability and development.

I now give the floor to the representative of Burundi.

I have the honour to address the Security Council on behalf of the Government of Burundi, as well as on my own behalf, on the occasion of the adoption of resolution 2137 (2014), on the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB), which determines the future of our cooperation with the United Nations. The peace dividend that Burundians are now enjoying is the result of joint efforts of Burundians and the international community. Here in the Chamber on 28 January (see S/PV.7104), the Government of Burundi called on the international community to take into account the significant progress made by our country in many areas. We also expressed the desire to move on to a new framework of cooperation with the United Nations, with BNUB gradually yielding to a United Nations country team in Burundi. I want to thank all the members of the Security Council for preparing the resolution while taking into account the concerns of Burundians, national ownership and sovereignty. Мy gratitude goes in particular to France for its facilitation efforts, which led to the satisfaction of all. My deep gratitude is proportionate to the difficulties its Ambassador had to overcome. Some delegations were initially reluctant to support the position of the Government of Burundi, citing certain problems related to the domestic political situation. I understand their concerns and I sincerely thank them. I know they certainly want the best for my country. However, I would like to reassure the Council that Burundians have been chastened by years of fratricidal politico-ethnic conflicts, and have finally decided to bury the hatchet when it comes to war. The apparent differences betweem Burundi’s political actors and civil society should not be of great concern to the members of the Council  — they are often merely part of the political posturing associated with learning about democracy. It is also a good thing that political parties, private media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations are free to express themselves. The State intervenes only rarely, in instances of extreme contempt and to ensure public order. The decision to close BNUB at the end of this year will mark the beginning of a new form of collaboration with the Government of Burundi as well as the end of a successful mission. Issues related to human rights, the protection of civilians, transitional justice, the electoral process and, above all, development are concerns that we take to heart. I conclude my remarks by thanking the Council again for this resolution. I also wish to inform members that Burundi takes note of the recommendations of the Security Council. We reiterate our commitment to continue moving forward to consolidate peace, as well as to cooperate with the United Nations and other partners to merit the multifaceted support from which we have heretofore benefited from the international community. That support will continue to help us as we strive for growth and seek to combat poverty. Through the Council, I would like to take this opportunity to inform the international community of the disaster that struck my country last Sunday, 9 February. Torrential rains have destroyed infrastructure and left more than 60 dead, most of them children. The Government calls for international solidarity to help cope with that humanitarian crisis.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.