缅北禁地

鈥淭he only enemy that remains a threat to citizens, in addition to the听COVID-19听pandemic,听which is common to all of us, is poverty,鈥澨鼸variste听Ndayishimiye听declared.听

The Head of State听was speaking at 缅北禁地Headquarters听on the third day听of the听high-level week of the General Assembly.听After being held virtually last year, this year鈥檚 gathering features听鈥渉ybrid鈥� activities that include leaders in person along with virtual participants.听

The Burundian leader听noted听that听his country听celebrates,听in 2021, six decades听of听independence and membership in the United Nations.听

鈥淚t is,听therefore,听a moment to remember that the United Nations played a big role because since the end of the First World War, Burundi was managed under the mandate of the League of Nations and then of the United Nations,鈥� he said.听

A moment for hope听

Pointing to听the theme of听this year鈥檚听debate,听A听Presidency of Hope,听he said听it has special meaning for Burundians.听听

鈥淣ot only in the face of the devastating effects of the听COVID-19听pandemic, but also the consequences of these repetitive crises that have been perpetrated in the country with complete impunity,鈥澨齢e explained.听听

To听overcome听these difficulties,听he said his听Government听identified听a number of听priorities in the听National Development Plan of Burundi, PND 2018-2027. He called听the initiative听鈥渁n ambitious and transformative program that can accelerate the process of socio-economic development.鈥澨�

On the issue of听good governance and social justice, he听said听鈥渢he fight against corruption, economic embezzlement and the fight against impunity are among the priorities of the Government.鈥澨�

Turning to听peace and security, he said it听is听鈥渦ndeniable鈥� that international community has had some successes听fighting听terrorism, but it听must recognize that听it听is 鈥渇ar from having developed a common, adequate and effective strategy to annihilate this scourge.鈥澨�

鈥淏eyond the necessary military action, the effective fight against terrorism听includes听a听fight听against radicalization,听which is rooted in ignorance, poverty, youth unemployment and illiteracy,鈥� he argued.听

He added that his听Government听is听concerned about the proliferation of terrorism in the region, including in the eastern region of the Democratic听Republic of听Congo听(DRC), where extremist groups 鈥渞ecruit unemployed young people who blindly听kill听peaceful and innocent citizens.鈥澨�

鈥淚 remain convinced that these groups pose a threat not only to our region but to all humanity鈥�, he said.听

It is in this context that,听since 2007, Burundi has made military and police contingents available to the United Nations and the African Union,听he informed.听These officers continue to serve听in countries听such as Somalia and the Central African Republic.听听

Human rights issues听

Mr.听Ndayishimiye听also made a note about听the听,听saying听of that body鈥檚 work that听鈥渁ny tendency to single out Burundi by attaching special human rights mechanisms to it is simply counterproductive.鈥澨�

鈥淚n practice, the Government has focused on the protection of human rights, respect for democratic principles, freedoms of opinion, expression and the press,鈥� he guaranteed.听鈥淎听lot of effort has been made thanks to the establishment of an almost permanent dialogue between political parties, the media and the public authorities.鈥澨�

He also听noted that听his country welcomes refugees and Burundians who return to their country.听He听explained听that, since听July 2020, more than 75,000 refugees returned voluntarily, adding听to more than 50,000 who returned听without going through specialized 缅北禁地agencies.听

鈥淲ith peace and security restored, Burundian refugees, including political actors, are returning听overwhelmingly and are greeted with love and dignity,鈥� he assured.听

Lastly, he welcomed the 鈥渉istoric decision鈥澨齩f the听Security Council听and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to remove Burundi from their political agendas in recognition of the return of peace.听听

听听