Bujumbura, Burundi - The Burundian government Wednesday welcome the one-year extension of the mandate of the UN Office in Burundi (UNOB) by the UN Security Council.

In a statement, the government expressed the hope that the new mandate of UNOB would be dedicated to providing assistance to civil society organizations and the media.

Since 2004, the UN has registered its presence in Burundi through its observation and enforcement of the 2003 cease-fire agreement that ended the country's civil war, as well as the provision of material and technical support for the organization of the country’s first post-conflict general elections in 2005.

Pana 28/12/2011