Brussels, 27/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Danish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU: "The EU condemns in the most vigorous terms the serious incidents that occurred in Itaba, near Gitega. It calls for a neutral and independent enquiry to establish the facts rapidly, and identify the guilty parties so that they can be prosecuted and judged in accordance with the judicial process. It is, furthermore, disturbed that information regarding this serious violation of humanitarian law and the right to life, which constitutes an affront to human dignity, is being withheld. The EU denounces the current escalation of violence in the conflict, not only because it inflicts additional suffering on the population, but also because a military victory can never provide the basis for a lasting peace and a Burundian society reconciled with itself. The EU once again appeals urgently both to the armed groups and to the army, which is the guarantor of law and order, above all to fulfil their obligation to respect the most elementary rights of the civilian population, who are the victims of the conflict, and to the Government of Burundi to bring to justice all confirmed cases in which those rights have been violated, in order to break with the culture of impunity. It calls on all sides involved in the conflict to respect the rules of the law of war and of international humanitarian law. No military strategy may violate the right to life and personal security of innocent civilians because of their claimed passive or active solidarity with one or other side. At this time when talks between the transitional government and the armed groups are to resume, the EU would once again remind all those involved in the conflict of the pressing need to conclude in good faith the negotiations to produce a global, comprehensive ceasefire and not threaten the fragile stability of the transitional period."