New York -- The United Nations Security Council Thursday welcomed the inauguration of Burundi’s transitional government but regretted that the two armed groups in the country were not participating, said Ambassador James Mugume, Director of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mugume, who attended the Security Council meeting, told The Monitor the council was sending a strong signal to the rebels that there is no alternative to the Arusha Agreement, and that a UN peacekeeping force will enter Burundi after the armed groups disarm.

Current indications are not good. The council noted that the Force for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) and the National Liberation Front (FNL) have attacked civilians with greater frequency in recent weeks.

Berhanu Dinka, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the Great Lakes Region and Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee, addressed the council earlier Thursday. He said failure of the transitional instruments was not an alternative. He also said reconstruction and development of the country were necessary to ensure Burundians would see a positive impact on their lives from the peace process, and therefore would continue to support it.