Brussels, 11/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Italian EU Council Presidency has issued the followed declaration on behalf of the European Union: "The European Union is deeply concerned at the intensification of hostilities in Burundi and calls upon the warring factions to cease the fighting immediately and show the greatest restraint. Absolute priority must be given to the security of the civilian population, which has already suffered enough from the absence of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Burundi. There can be no military solution to the tragedy of Burundi: negotiation, and the honouring of existing commitments, are the only possible way to restore the peace so longed for by the people. The European Union urges the transitional government and the Palipehutu-FNL, led by Agathon Rwasa, to show sufficient good will to start constructive talks with a view to peace negotiations. The European Union calls upon the transitional government and the CNDD-FDD, led by Pierre Nkurunziza, to implement rapidly and conscientiously the cease-fire agreement of 2 December 2002 and to make the efforts necessary to resolve the outstanding issues. The EU also appeals to all actors in the subregion to refrain from giving any support to the parties to the conflict in Burundi and to respect the will of the people of Burundi in its search for peace. The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration".