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Ndadaye said there was no question of Hutus taking revenge on the Tutsis who have dominated the military and political structure since independence. "I enshrine the hopes of all those who suffered from dictatorship, whether Hutus or Tutsis," he said.
"People realised we were opposed to ideas of vengeance, to tribalism. They realised that we want to erase the past and that is why they voted for us. If we had adopted vengeful language, we would have aroused fear. People know we represent a force for calm."
Ndadaye said there was no risk among FRODEBU members of "excesses" because there was "total discipline" in the party.
The president said Burundi had achieved "psychological liberation" through free elections.
"Hutus are freed from the anguish of being oppressed and subjected to a regime which sent them into exile. The Tutsis are delivered from a certain superiority complex and embarrassment about unduly holding some positions."
Regarding foreign policy, Ndadaye said he hoped to "help as far as possible in pacifying Rwanda" which borders Burundi and has witnessed similar Hutu-Tutsi violence.
He would also "pursue cooperation with countries which have traditionally worked with Burundi, namely France, Belgium, Germany and the United States," Ndadaye said.
sa/jb/ns AFP AFP SEQN-0069
