John Malecela, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Republic of Tanzania
Following discussions with the French Republic and our neighbors in Burundi, and in partnership with the former, we wish to present an amended resolution on the conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis of the African Great Lakes, and urge the United Nations to endorse the mediation process before the situation escalates into even worse violence.
The General Assembly
Noting that Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states "All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law",
Confirming our commitment to this and all articles of that document,
Acknowledging that peaceful and diplomatic resolution should be the first aim of all nations and international organizations,
Concerned about the spread of Hutu-Tutsi violence in the African Great Lakes before and after decolonization, particularly as pertains to the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi,
Recognizing that state actors of both parties have either enacted discriminatory policies or sought to inflame ethnic tensions in the region, creating a situation which threatens not only the stability of Rwanda and Burundi and the dignity of their people, but the security of neighboring nations,
Condemns unequivocally any and all policies related to discrimination and persecution against ethnic minorities in the African Great Lakes, as well as any attempts to destabilize neighboring nations via manipulation of these groups;
Sponsors talks between the nations of Rwanda and Burundi with the intent of ending state-sponsored hostilities between the Hutu and Tutsi people, as well as ending violations of Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Supports the French Republic and the United Republic of Tanzania, on behalf of the East African Community, as mediators of these talks, to be held in Arusha;
Recommends that the United Nations Security Council deploy [one unit of] peacekeepers to the Rwanda-Burundi border in the interim;
Requests that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provides [50 credits] for the creation of refugee camps and the relief of victims of the present tensions in the African Great Lakes;
Calls upon Burundi and Rwanda to enter the mediation process proposed as soon as possible.
