Burundi's transitional government and Pierre Nkurunziza's Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) reaffirmed on Sunday their commitment to peace, following a day-long regional consultative meeting in the Tanzanian commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Both sides, which signed a ceasefire on 2 Dec 2002 in Arusha, northern Tanzania, have largely violated the accord.
| It's an old tradition of those engaged in Armed Struggle™... |
However, officials close to the negotiations said that on Sunday progress had been made and that, for the first time, the parties had discussed "real issues".
| Working out how they're gonna split the swag, are they? |
"Although it wasn't concluded today, they [the government and the rebels] were having serious discussions," a source told IRIN on Sunday. "They talked about positions in government and the details of the Forces Technical Agreement. This is very positive." A full summit to "finalise all outstanding matters" will be convened within three weeks, the facilitator of the peace talks announced. |