Launch of the programs of the renewed European Union Strategy for the great lakes region

In their respective speeches, the Representative of the Mayor of the City of Bujumbura Mr. Christophe KINSHASA, the Regional Director of the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) Mr. Dr. Mamadou Diam BALDE, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Region of the Great Lakes (ICGLR) Mr. Ambassador João Samuel Caholo and the Delegate of the European Union to Burundi Madam Ambassador Elisabella PIETROBON, all thanked the organizers for having hold that conference so that they exchanged ideas on the currently problems found in the region. Those problems include, among others, the lack of peace and security in certain countries, the massive and intense movements of refugees here and there, the illegal and unreformed exploitation of the natural resources, good governance, health, etc., which hinder the sustainable development. of the region. They also insisted on the importance of working together for the future of the great lakes region within the framework of resolving the conflicts linked to the various sources, the strengthening mechanisms in the identification of the threats through the dialogues, development in the region, ensuring peace and security in the region, finding lasting solutions regarding returnees etc.
Note that the two days of that conference were marked by the exchange of ideas on the transformation of the root causes of instability into the common perspectives and presentations on the renewed EU strategy for the great lakes region, presentation of the programs from the renewed European Union Strategy for the greater region in the areas of economic cooperation, regional integration and natural resource management, peace and security programs and durable solutions programs for the refugees.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation ended his speech by emphasizing that the Government of Burundi will spare no effort to contribute to peace, security and development, both nationally and at the national level.
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Ferdinand Bashikako underlined that that conference testifies the confidence placed in Burundi, the host country on the one hand, and in the ICGLR on the other hand, to contribute significantly to the effective implementation of the pact on security, stability and development in the great lakes region as signed on November 15, 2006 by the leaders of the great lakes region. He also demonstrates the appreciation of the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation that Burundi maintains with its partners including the European Union and its member states as well as with the United Nations and other bilateral partners.
    
 
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation welcomed the multifaceted support of the various partners and multilaterals of the great lakes region for regional peace and development efforts. Among those partners is the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for the great lakes region who developed a collaboration strategy with the great lakes region as well as the United Nations agencies, the African Union and the European Union whose renewed strategy particularly attracts their attention through that high-level two-day conference. He also emphasized that the great lakes region of which Burundi is a part is a region endowed with the highly strategic natural and human resources for the rest of the continent and for the world facing many difficulties linked to peace and development whose root causes (political, economic, security and social) go back decades and still persist, hence the need to address them.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation stressed that to meet the aspirations of the people of the great lakes countries including Burundi, with a view to the sustainable peace and development, the various partners are called upon to inspire the agendas and visions already in progress which are often translated into the priorities and national policies of the countries concerned, in strict respect of their sovereignty. Regional and international integrative projects are strongly encouraged. He also welcomed the good initiatives of the European Union for the great lakes region and Burundi reiterates its appreciation for the projects of the European Union executed or in progress, of the UNHCR and other partners.
On Monday January 15, 2024, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Ferdinand Bashikako proceeded to the official opening of the high level conference for the launch of the regional programs of the renewed Strategy of the European Union for the Great Lakes Region organized by the partners of Burundi namely the European Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR), held in Bujumbura, at the Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika on January 15 and 16, 2024.

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