The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation participates in the Celebration of the National Day of the Kingdom of Belgium

On friday july 21, 2023, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Burundi celebrated the national day of its country. The ceremonies began with the national anthem of Burundi followed by that of Belgium.

According to Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Burundi Mr. Alain Van Gucht, that ceremony was organized to commemorate the taking an oath, on july 21, 1831, of the First King of the Belgians, Léopold, a few months after the proclamation of their independence in october 1830.

In his speech, Ambassador Alain Van Gucht welcomed the historical and interpersonal ties that unite the two countries, Burundi and the Kingdom of Belgium, based on the solidarity and reciprocal attention which have never been denied but which are expressed  in an evolutionary way. “Today, we can certainly say that our bilateral relations have gradually reopened, that mutual trust is restored,” he said.

The Ambassador indicated that in the logic of the continuity and the enhancement of the already existing cooperation, the government of Burundi and that of the Kingdom of Belgium have confirmed the continuation of their commitment of the bilateral governmental cooperation which is added to the cooperation implemented by the numerous Belgian NGOs present in Burundi and other interventions channeled by our multilateral partners. However, he added that there is the possibility of deepening those bilateral relations by entering into a real dialogue on what those two countries want and can do even better together for the common benefit of their populations.

The Kingdom of Belgium has currently made a governmental cooperation program covering the next five years (2024-2028) and wishes to do it so transparently by conducting a wide consultations with the Burundian authorities concerned, to reassure itself that the country is aligned on the Burundi’s development priorities.

The Ambassador ended his speech by emphasizing that the Kingdom of Belgium is very attentive to the investment climate in Burundi and is more and more regularly informed of the expressions of the interest from the operators established in Belgium. It is for that reason in particular that two advisors, in economic diplomacy, are chosen

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Ferdinand BASHIKAKO wished a happy National Day to Ambassador Alain Van Gucht. He indicated that Burundi and Belgium share a history which has contributed to mutual knowledge and esteem. The deep links of friendship gradually established have been a major asset of the development of the solid and multifaceted cooperation relations. He positively appreciated the partnership between Belgium and Burundi.

According to the report presented by the Ambassador, the Permanent Secretary said that Burundi is delighted with the Belgium’s recent decision to launch a new program of the governmental cooperation with Burundi for the period 2024-2028 within the framework of the contribution inclusive and resilient to the climatic and socio-economic hazards. He expressed the wish of the Burundian Government to find together the ways and means to prelaunch the bilateral partnership between those two countries and that the Burundian Government is willing to start the necessary bilateral discussions at the time of the best convenience of the authorized Belgian authorities.

Thus, the Ambassador of Belgium to Burundi informed the participants that it is the last party he is organizing in Burundi as a Head of Mission in Burundi because his mandate is getting the expiration, the Permanent Secretary, on behalf of the Government of Burundi, appreciated his role in the gradual resumption of the Belgian-Burundian relations.

He ended by pointing out that the Ambassador began his mission at a time when Burundi was suffering from the sanctions from the European Union and its Member States and that he contributed with advice and correct analyzes of the situation, the removing of those sanctions and the programming, admittedly timid, of the new direct bilateral cooperation programs.