20110101
xinhua

BUJUMBURA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) is migrating from the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) as of Saturday, a senior UN official said.

A ceremony was held here on Friday to mark the shift from BINUB to BNUB. Steven Siqueira, officer in charge of BINUB said, "This ceremony is intended to launch the shift from the BINUB into a slighter structure called the United Nations Office (BNUB) with a reduction of up to 60 percent of the UN presence in Burundi."

He said the new UN structure in Burundi will support the progress made by the country (Burundi) in the sectors of peace consolidation, democracy and development.

Siqueira said the Burundian population and authorities will be able to appreciate the country's progress in sectors of political governance, human rights and justice through the implementation of the new mandate of the new UN mandate proclaimed by Resolution 1959 adopted on Dec. 16 by the UN Security Council.

Siqueira said BNUB is to be led by a special representative of the UN secretary general whose arrival in Burundi is expected soon. He stressed BNUB's ambitions include participating in programs of peace consolidation and boosting economy growth to respond to the needs of vulnerable people.

"BNUB's main interventions will focus on strategic sectors including capacity building for the country institutions, fight against impunity and corruption, promotion of human rights, setting up transitional justice mechanisms and regional integration," Siqueira said.

BNUB is to be led by Karen Landgreen from Sweden and expected in Burundi in mid-February. It will have four branches, notably in the provinces of Bujumbura Rural, Makamba, Gitega and Ngozi.

BINUB, to be changed to BNUB, was coordinating all UN agencies in Burundi. However, BNUB will just be a representation of the United Nations based in New York.