Burundi asks EU not to suspend development aid

Burundi's External Relations and International Cooperation Minister Alain-Aime Nyamitwe on Monday expressed hope that the European Union (EU) will not suspend development aid to his country.

Foreign ministers from the 28 EU member states were set to meet on Monday in Brussels to evaluate the state of EU's cooperation with Burundi under the auspices of the Cotonou Accord that links African Carribean and Pacific (ACP) countries with the EU.

One of the clauses of this agreement provides for suspension of development aid against a signatory state that violates Human Rights or abets corruption.

"We remain hopeful regarding our ties with the EU. Indeed, under the framework of consultations on execution of reciprocal commitments between ACP-EU in conformity with the Cotonou Accord, on Dec. 8, 2015 in Brussels, Burundi gave its commitments in terms of achievement of certain objectives, especially in the area of Human Rights and political dialogue," Nyamitwe said when he spoke on Burundi's national radio.

In the two cases, he added, Burundi has already initiated political dialogue whereas at the level of Human Rights, procedures to address certain concerns that Burundi differed with EU have started.

"On this, we hope that the EU will not proceed to sanction a country that is making efforts to satisfy demands by one group or another," he concluded. Endit