Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Issue of the Peace Process for Burundi
(Former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to be the new mediator in the peace process for Burundi)

December 6, 1999

Japan welcomes the nomination of former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who gave hope to the world in solving conflict by reconciliation and dialogue, as the new mediator in the peace process for Burundi.
Japan hopes that this nomination will reinvigorate the peace process for Burundi, whose progress was delayed by the worsening illness and eventual demise of the previous mediator, the former President of Tanzania, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and that peace will be achieved as soon as possible. Japan requests the cooperation of all the parties concerned toward that end and, especially, strongly demands an immediate halt of attacks by armed groups, to which civilians are exposed.
Japan has been supporting the Arusha Peace Process, based on the regional initiative in which the late President Nyerere was a mediator, and has extended financial cooperation to assist the holding of relevant meetings for the peace process. Japan intends to continue to provide appropriate assistance for the regional efforts toward realization of peace.

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