Papal nuncio Michael Courtney was shot dead at the end of last year by so far unknown armed men.

The Czech Republic - like the European Union and the other acceding countries - condemns this assassination. It has highly appreciated the efforts and work of nuncio Courtney for the continuation of the peace process in Burundi and expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the crime will be found and brought to justice.

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic have sent condolences to their counterparts in the Holy See.

In this connection, the MFA of the Czech Republic points out that the assassination of the papal nuncio is another example of the fragility and instability of security in Burundi, and stresses the need for the continuation of the peace process in which Michael Courtney played an important role.

The MFA of the Czech Republic regards in this context the Peace Mission of the African Union in Burundi of great importance and appreciates the role played in it by the Republic of South Africa, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

According to the MFA of the Czech Republic, the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) should begin to participate in the peace process as soon as possible. Provided the signals that the FLN shows interest in a meeting proposed by the President of Burundi prove true, then such meeting would provide scope for gradual calming down of the situation in the country and the implementation of the objectives of the peace process.