Burundi and the European Union resumed dialogue on Monday after five years of frozen relations due to disagreements on a number of issues.
President Gen. Evariste Ndayishimiye allowed all envoys of EU member states with residence in Burundi to meet with him at the State house known as Ntare Rushatsi Palace.
The last formal discussions between Burundi and the European Union were on March 2016 when the Council unilaterally concluded the consultation procedure with Burundi under article 96 of the EU-ACP partnership agreement, known as the Accord from Cotonou.
Burundi had never ceased to remind its partner that the invocation of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement in the face of the situation in Burundi had been precipitated, in May 2015, in the wake of the insurgency and upheavals that led to the coup attempt of May 13, 2015.
The Government of the Republic of Burundi has always accused its partner, the European Union, of being the sponsor of this instability, while the European Union suspended direct financial support to the State of Burundi, including budgetary support.
The EU has been accusing Burundi of 'not respecting democratic principles and values, human rights and the rule of law on the basis of the Cotonou Agreement and the principles set out in the Arusha Agreement'.
President Ndayishimiye reminded the envoys that the moment is well chosen given the situation of peace and security which prevails throughout the country, the massive return of refugees, the warming of relations with Rwanda.
He also emphasized Burundi's role both on the regional and international scene and the diplomatic successes achieved by Burundi until it is withdrawn from the political agenda of the UN Security Council.
Walking Away From The Ugly Past
The European Union in Burundi said, 'it is high time to resolve misunderstandings with mutual respect' and appreciated the soothing speech of President Ndayishimiye and his policy of openness, which constitute 'a basis solid for the resumption of good cooperation between the European Union and Burundi in a dynamic of mutually beneficial and advantageous partnership and nothing would justify dragging our feet.'
The two sides agreed to break free from the past and look to the future by rebuilding their relationship based on the 6 priorities of President Ndayishimiye including; good governance, public health, education, agriculture and livestock, free healthcare for retirees and youth development.
The European Union promised to do everything in its power to ensure that the European Union supports the responsible and laborious institutions of Burundi in this new impetus towards development, in accordance with the priority areas contained in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
The President of the Republic recommended that this dialogue continue on the technical level at the level of the Ministry having foreign affairs in its attributions, confident that the success of the reestablishment of good relations between the European Union and Burundi is already on a good footing path.
At the end of this audience, Claude Bochu, Representative of the European Union in Burundi indicated that they were received by Burundi President at their request.
He welcomed the climate in which the meeting took place and insisted that this hearing was the first (under the Cotonou Agreement) for 5 years.
The post Burundi & European Union Return To Talks After 5 Frozen Years appeared first on Taarifa Rwanda.
Source : https://taarifa.rw/burundi-european-union-return-to-talks-after-5-frozen-years/
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