The European Union welcomes the outcome of the Regional Summit on Burundi in Dar es Salaam on October 7, 2002, which it considers a step in the right direction towards an all-inclusive ceasefire and the implementation of the Arusha Agreement.

The European Union welcomes the signing of a ceasefire agreement between CNDD-FDD (Jean- Bosco Ndayikengurukiye) and Palipehutu-FNL (Alain Mugarabona) respectively and the Government of Burundi.

The European Union supports the time schedule set up by the Regional Summit for concluding a ceasefire agreement between CNDD-FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza) and FNL (Agathon Rwasa) respectively and the Government of Burundi. The EU calls on all partners to seize this opportunity for peace and strongly urges all the mentioned parties to take on the responsibility at the highest level to conclude ceasefire agreements within 30 days.

The European Union supports the Regional Summit's call on all the signatories to the Arusha Agreement to facilitate the integration into the transitional institutions, including the army and other security forces, of the signatories to the ceasefire agreements.

The European Union calls on all the Burundian parties to cease immediately all military activities, to respect human rights and to protect the civilian population.

The EU urges all countries in the region to cease all support for the military activities of the armed groups involved in the Burundi conflict.

The EU encourages the Governments of the DRC and Burundi to enter into an agreement to normalise their relations, building on their Agreement signed in January 2002.

The EU finally repeats its continued support for the regional efforts, including those of the facilitators, to bring an end to the violence in Burundi with the view to creating peace, stability and development to the benefit of all the people of Burundi.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.