PSCIPRIBR(CXC1X) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT OF THE 19gTH MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECLlRlTY COLlNClL The Peace and Security Cou~icilof the African Union, at its 19gth meeting held on 17 August 2009, received a briefing by the Commission, as well as a communication by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Burundi at the AU on the latest developments in the situation in Burundi. Council, recalled paragraph 3 of decision AssemblylAUlDec.252 on the Report of the activities of the Peace and Security Council and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, adopted at the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Sirte, Libya, from ~~ 1 to 3rdJ I J 2009. Council welcomed the successful conclusion of the implementation process of the peace agreements signed in Dar-es-Salaam in July and September 2006 between the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the PALIPEHUTUIFNL, as well as the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of Front National de Liberation (FNL). Council commended the Burundian parties to the peace process for the political will they have shown and for the courageous compromises that allowed for the attainment of peace. In this regard, Council welcomed the change of name from PALIPEHUTUIFNL to FNL, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution, which conferred on it the status of a political party, on 2lStApril2009. Council expressed its gratitude to the Regional Initiative, the South African Facilitation and the Political Directorate, as well as to the United Nations and the international community, for their contribution to the peace efforts in Burundi. Council welcomed the important work done by the AU to support the implementation of the 2006 agreements and paid tribute to the Chairperson of ,the Commission and to his Special Representative in Burundi, Ambassador Mamadou Bah, for the effectiveness with which AU has ensured the coordination of the efforts of the international community in supporting the peace process in Burundi. Council expressed its gratitude to the countries that contributed military observers within the framework of the implementation of the 2006 agreements and recalled the contribution of the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), made up of Ethiopian, Mozambican and South African contingents, deployed from 2003-2004 in support of the implementation of the agreements signed in October and December 2002 between the