Kufuor receives special message from Burundi

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday lauded Burundi for the serious efforts it was making at healing the wounds of the more than a decade of ruinous civil war that claimed many lives and displaced thousands of Burundians.

He said the Government of President Pierre Nkurunziza has started off well with its drive at reconciling the country.

Equally commendable, he said, were the Burundian Government's moves to reconstruct the nation and the introduction of interventions like free education and free health care for children and mothers. This has made people to begin to have hope for the country. President Kufuor said these in remarks after he was briefed on the current socio-political and security situation in Burundi, by an Envoy of President Nkurunziza, at the Castle, Osu, on Thursday. The Envoy, Mr Salvator Ntacobamaze, who is a Minister and Chief of State Protocol, was at the Castle to deliver a special message from his President.

The content was not disclosed.

Mr Ntacobamaze informed President Kufuor that the security situation in his country has improved tremendously after the signing of ceasefire agreement with the last fighting group. He said they were now struggling with how to cope with returning refugees.

He spoke of discussions with the United Nations (UN) on the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to heal the wounds of the 12-year civil war.

President Kufuor also granted audience to a Libyan delegation, led by Dr Ali Trieki, Secretary for African Union Affairs of the General Peoples Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Co-operation. The delegation had come with a message from the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gadafi.