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Gayle Smith, NSC Senior Director for African Affairs Howard Wolpe, Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Telephone Press Briefing on Upcoming Burundi Peace Talks Washington, DC, February 21, 2000 Released by The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

10:35 A.M. EST Ms. Smith: This is Gayle Smith. Let me just briefly say that we were able to watch here the ceremony that you've just observed, and I think that we're quite inspired here in Washington, watching the support from across Africa and Europe for this process. And we're very much looking forward to joining tomorrow. Q: I'd like to know whether or not you could give some indication of the type of message that the President might share tomorrow, and whether or not Burundi--why Burundi has suddenly taken center stage, has suddenly come on to the radar screen for the U.S. Ms. Smith: Thank you, Ann. This is Gayle Smith speaking. The President tomorrow will convey the strong support of the United States for this process and, consistent with other leaders, urge that the parties work very closely together to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. This is obviously an important thing in terms of the President's involvement, but I would say that the United States has been involved in support of this process since its initiation. Special Envoy Howard Wolpe, who is out there with you in Arusha, has been heavily involved in working with the mediators and facilitation team and also in regular consultation with other leaders in the region in our effort to support this process, because since this war in Burundi erupted some years ago, the United States has been very interested in doing what we can to help bring about its resolution. I think, currently, one of the reasons that it becomes all the more important is because of the linkage between the implementation of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement in the Congo and reaching a peace agreement in Burundi. Given the inter-relation between these two things, we think the timing is extremely important, and the President is quite interested in conveying his support so that we might help both peace processes move forward. Question: What is the linkage? Ms. Smith: The linkage is that, obviously, some of the groups that have been able to lead to the destabilization in the Congo also are able to move across borders, as well; the instability in Burundi and in the Congo feed each other, if you will. And I think it's our view that the politics, instability and future stability and peace of the Great Lakes is all interconnected in such a way that peace in the Congo can only reinforce progress towards a settlement in Burundi and vice versa. Howard, I don't know if you'd like to add anything from out there. Mr. Wolpe: Just the conflict between the Tutsi and Hutu--and Burundi, as in Rwanda, has historically had regional consequences. Not only has there been a terrible loss of life in the countries, themselves--Burundi and Rwanda--but there's also been this very substantial flow of refugees after each round of massacres and killings. And so the region has interest, as you heard today from the regional leaders, in finding a way to peace in Burundi. They see that as enormously important to help the instability in the entire region. Question: What kind of indications are there that this might be the final set of peace talks for Burundi? It's been going on now for--the conflict, that is--for 6 years, and negotiations for 20. Why should we be confident that this time around is finally going to be the end? Ms. Smith: I would like to ask our Special Envoy to join me on this, but what I would say here from Washington, Ann, is that considerable progress was made under the leadership of former President Nyerere, and I think there's a strong foundation for the parties to reach agreement. The fact that they have come to Arusha I think is an indication of that. Now, I don't think any of us is saying that this conflict is going to be wrapped up by tomorrow, but that indeed, building on that foundation built by President Nyerere and with the leadership of President Mandela, and importantly, with the support of regional leaders, Europe and the United States, I think it is our view that the time is ripe to make substantial steps forward. And our hope is that the leaders of the delegations from Burundi will, in fact, agree and will make the progress that's necessary. Howard? Mr. Wolpe: What I would add is those of us who have been engaged in the process--in my instance, going back to June of 1996--have got to be impressed by the distance that has already been traversed. It was only a couple of years ago that some of the parties sitting around the table today in the Arusha process were so demonized by each others that the prospect of getting them together in an all-party negotiation was literally inconceivable. And there is much effort that was required simply to get to that point. I remember the days when it was hugely controversial in--Bujumbura whether to use the term "negotiation" rather than the term "dialogue" or "conversation." And so we have seen over time--and it's not been an easy process--gradually those involved directly in negotiations beginning to establish sufficient confidence and trust in the ability to have this kind of negotiation, but they've been able to begin to move towards some convergence on the issues. We're not there yet; there's a ways to go. And one of the other problems has been the separation, just by virtue of physical distance, between the Arusha process, on the one hand, and Burundi on the other. One of the elements of the plenary sessions that are now beginning to be discussed in public view is to help demystify, if you will, this process, to begin to link up many more Burundians in the conversation that is taking place here and that is taking place inside Burundi. Question: Why is it that the U.S. Government doesn't want to commit soldiers in the--to enforce the peace accord? Ms. Smith: The United States will be supporting that peacekeeping operation through the United Nations. It has been our experience that in some peacekeeping operations there are, indeed, requests for U.S. troops and in others there have not been. We believe in this case our best means of support is by not only supporting the UN peacekeeping operation--through a significant contribution in the range of $40 million--but additionally, through supporting the joint military commission, which we are doing, and the internal dialogue led by President Nyerere. Question: One of the concerns here that President Mandela said is a huge stumbling block is the lack of involvement of the armed groups. Is it U.S. government policy that you want to see the armed groups involved in the negotiations, and if so, why? Ms. Smith: Mike, I will respond briefly, and then again, you have Howard Wolpe with you. Let me say it's our view that for a peace to be achieved in Burundi, that all parties and representatives of all walks of life must be represented, and that as well, if, indeed, armed groups don't participate, it is very difficult, indeed, to reach a peace. So, for that reason, I think we would support the view of President Mandela that all parties, to include those that are armed, need to be engaged in the process. Mr. Wolpe: --that we have been actively engaged with the facilitation in encouraging members of the armed rebel groups to begin a dialogue; that they have indicated a desire to meet with President Mandela, those that are not yet in the process. We are hopeful that those meetings will take place-- telephone connection drops)-- Ms. Smith: Let me just thank the press, both the African and North American press for joining us this morning--or this evening your time. And I hope that you will be joining us as well tomorrow when the President joins, again by live video conference, a satellite link. And I would just tell you in closing that this is the first time that we have been able to do anything like this, this live video link in real time. And we are all very pleased on this end that the first time that we are doing this is, indeed, with Africa and for Burundi. So we look forward to linking up with you tomorrow. Thank you. 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