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President Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to attend the Regional Heads of State Summit on Burundi today - Monday, 15 September 2003.

Heads of State of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa; Uganda, Yoweri Museveni; Rwanda, Paul Kagame; Burundi, Domitien Ndayizeye; and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, are also expected to attend the Summit.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma who arrived in Tanzania yesterday - Sunday, 14 September 2003 - will present a report on developments in the peace process to the Heads of State in his capacity as facilitator of the peace process.

In addition, issues on the agenda include:
* The complete deployment of African Mission in Burundi;
* An agreement on power sharing;
* The implementation of the cease-fire agreements, including the implementation of the demobilisation, disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration programme; and
* The transformation of the armed forces.

Major challenges still facing the country remain the:
* Need to address the inadequate budgeting support and the non-release of funds pledged to the peace process during the Paris and Geneva donor conferences since these funds are essential to the successful implementation of priorities and objectives for the region;
* Socio-economic development and reconstruction of the country; and
* Involvement of the churches and civil society, especially the rural people in the peace process.

For further information contact
* Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
* Bheki Khumalo on 083 256 9133
* David Hlabane on 082 561 9428

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 15 September 2003