24.05.2012 - Comunicado de prensa
Mr. Laurent Lavakure, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, is received in Bern

On 24 May 2012, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, received Mr. Laurent Kavakure, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, on visit to Bern. The talks provided an opportunity to exchange views, discuss various bilateral and multilateral issues, and to evoke the development cooperation activities and peace-promotion measures that Switzerland has been conducting in the Great Lakes region.

Ever since Switzerland recognised Burundi’s independence in 1962, the two countries have maintained good relations marked by Switzerland’s commitment in terms of development cooperation and peace promotion in Burundi.

The frank and constructive dialogue that Switzerland is engaged in with the Burundi authorities unfolds at various levels and was highlighted last year on 25 October 2011 by an official visit of the President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, to Bern.

During his meeting with Mr. Kavakure, Mr. Burkhalter pointed out that Burundi is one of the priority countries of Swiss development cooperation in the region of the Great Lakes (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi), assuring his counterpart that Switzerland will pursue its commitment to supporting efforts for the consolidation of peace in the region.

Two instruments of Swiss foreign policy – development cooperation and peace-promotion – are currently being implemented in the region. For the period of 2009-2012, the focus of intervention is on the consolidation of peace and the healthcare sector. In Burundi, the funds currently being invested amount to some CHF 6-7 million per year.

On the multilateral level, Switzerland maintains good relations within the context of La Francophonie, and supports Burundi within the frame of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). At present, the PBC Burundi Configuration is evolving under the leadership of the Swiss Ambassador to the UN.


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