Readout of the Secretary-General’s telephone call with H.E. Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi
Readouts | Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General
The Secretary-General spoke today with H.E. Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of the Republic of Burundi. He stressed that with elections less than two months away, the country had made great progress, thanks to the determination of Burundians to preserve the spirit of Arusha and build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation. He urged President Nkurunziza to carefully consider the potential consequences, for the country and his legacy, of his decisions in the run-up to the presidential election.
The Secretary-General pointed to the many voices in Burundi and the international community calling for strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the Arusha Accord, which is the basis for the country’s Constitution. He called on President Nkurunziza to ensure that the security services remain impartial in the event of public protests.
The Secretary-General expressed the hope that President Nkurunziza’s decisions would keep Burundi on the path to peace and stability.