On Thursday, July 22, 2021, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Isidore NTIRAMPEBA officially opened an information and exchange seminar for newly appointed diplomats, at Best Outlook Hotel.
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary wished them a warm and cordial welcome and expressed them his warm congratulations for the confidence that the high authorities of the Republic have placed in them.
He also let it be known that it is a tradition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, to organize for the nominated diplomats, an information and exchange seminar for a better mutual knowledge and especially for a better understanding of the responsibilities and expectations related to the mission entrusted to them. For him, this is practically an opportunity to provide diplomats with the tools and knowledge necessary to better master the diplomatic function, which nowadays aims to be more offensive and more efficient.
Mr. Isidore NTIRAMPEBA declared that the diplomatic mission is at the same time noble, exhilarating and constraining. It requires qualities of clairvoyance, intelligence, love of work, wisdom and patriotism. Diplomats are called upon to be constantly alert, anticipatory, creative and above all held to an obligation of results. The Council of Ministers in its session of July 07, 2021 recommended that an annual evaluation of each diplomatic representation of Burundi abroad be carried out.
The Permanent Secretary expressed his wish that diplomats can serve a responsible and hard-working Government (Reta Myeyi, Reta NKozi) whose actions and projects will guide and inspire their activities; always keep in mind that a diplomatic representation of one country is a miniature state transplanted into another; to know the visions and projects of socio-economic development of his country; to build solid cooperation with all partners, both bilateral and multilateral, with strict respect for everyone’s sovereignty; to build relations based on respect where certain States do not take the place of the international community to oppress other States by imposing unilateral and unjustified sanctions on them. Burundi diplomatic missions must be lively, radiant and welcoming, both for nationals and for foreign partners, and a diplomatic mission requires careful management.
He ended his speech by reminding them that Burundi expects them to be fulfilled diplomats, competent and proud to represent their country with dignity and to serve their people perfectly.
The presentations made consisted of diplomatic practices, the role of the diplomat in promoting investments, the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings, intelligence techniques, administrative management and public finances in a diplomatic mission, on the assessment of compliance with the proper application of rules and procedures in the management of public affairs and on the reporting of the activities of diplomatic missions. These were carried out respectively by the senior executives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, those of the Investment Promotion Agency (API) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and that of the National Intelligence Service (SNR).
