HOLY SEE ASKS FOR EASING OF SANCTIONS ON BURUNDI
VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 1996 (VIS) - Holy See Permanent Observer to the UN Archbishop Renato Martino spoke yesterday in New York before the Third Committee of the 51st Session of the General Assembly on the situation in Burundi.
He said that "the horror of hatred and intolerance commands our attention as we witness the pain and suffering of hundreds of thousands of children, women and men scattered throughout Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi."
He pointed to "the violence growing out of the inhumane logic of inter- ethnic conflicts. The suffering will continue until there is peace and forgiveness among the different ethnic groups and the international community moves to foster lasting peace and stability in the region. ... Despite the hopeful developments of recent days, ... a dramatic humanitarian situation still exists, falling mainly on the poorest sections of society."
"In order to help those who suffer these hardships," the nuncio stated, "the Holy See calls for an easing of sanctions imposed on Burundi, especially with regard to medicines, the importation of educational materials and school equipment, the delivery of vegetable seed and fertilizers, as well as the fuel necessary for transporting these humanitarian supplies."
"If Burundi continues to be isolated and its people condemned to live in
conditions of extreme need," said the archbishop in conclusion, "it is possible
that extremists of all sorts will seize the opportunity to plunge the country
into chaos. ...A remedy must be found for the turbulence that has given rise
to genocide, the displacement of whole populations, growing and sometimes
absolute poverty as well as political unrest."
DELSS/BURUNDI/UN:MARTINO VIS 961121 (270)