Congratulatory Remarks by Ms Sue van der Merwe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 45th Anniversary of the Independence of Burundi, Sunday, 01 July 2007, Burgers Park Hotel

Your Excellency, Ambassador Rwimo
Excellencies and colleagues
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Amahoro! (Peace)

It is a great honour to represent the government of the Republic of South Africa on this auspicious occasion in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Burundi. We wish to convey to you, Your Excellency, the government and the people of the Republic of Burundi our congratulations on this important day in your country's history.

Since the formalisation of our bilateral relations, there has been increasing co-operation between our governments and peoples. South Africa's commitment to the Republic of Burundi and her people has found practical expression since the late 1990s, when former President Nelson Mandela assumed the role of Facilitator in the Burundi Peace Process after the untimely passing of the late President Mwalimu Nyerere of Tanzania, till this day. Presently, Minister Charles Nqakula, our Minister for Safety and Security, who is also the current Facilitator, is continuing the good work of his predecessors, a fact that signifies South Africa's commitment to facilitate lasting peace and security in Burundi. South Africa's establishment of the Office of the Facilitator in Bujumbura bears testimony to its support for the successful conclusion of the Burundi Peace Process.

Excellencies, the Government of the Republic of South Africa remains committed to the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development process in Burundi. Since the establishment of the South African Technical Task Team to Burundi in June 2006, a framework for strategic interaction was forged with the aim of promoting the objectives of the African Union and the consolidation of the African Agenda. This partnership is underscored by high-level engagement between the South African and Burundi public sector stakeholders, thus promoting the common interests of our countries. A significant milestone was achieved when a General Cooperation Agreement was signed in February 2007 by our respective Foreign Ministers. This development should be viewed as a commitment to further strengthen our cordial relations.

In a sense, therefore, in spite of the glaring differences in size between our countries and populations, for us the relationship with Burundi typifies our approach to the rebirth of our continent. We believe that the building blocks towards the rebirth of our continent as well as the realisation of the vision of the founding fathers and mothers of a united Africa depend on a deeper understanding between its peoples. Nowhere has this been clearly demonstrated as through the Burundi Peace Process where we saw an increasing people-to-people contact as negotiators between both our countries crisscrossed a number of countries, including Tanzania, Gabon and Uganda amongst others. Let us also not forget that some of these negotiations happened in this very hotel, which also served as a home for various Barundi negotiators who spent extended times away from their loved ones to try and create a better future for their countrymen and women.

We salute our Barundi brothers and sisters for this commitment and they can count on our support to make it work. Ladies and Gentlemen, South Africa continues to be inspired by the determination of the Barundi in overcoming major obstacles in the face of great adversity.

Thus, in spite of its small geographic and population size, the quest for peace in Burundi has served as a tool to deal a blow to the stereotypes about an Africa riddled with ethnic strife and demonstrated an uncanny commitment to safeguard the interests of its all its people in their diversity and future Barundi generations.

May I also take this opportunity to congratulate, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, the Government of the Republic of Burundi for its accession to the East African Community (EAC). The accession of Burundi to the EAC will certainly spur the East African region towards a path of greater economic development and prosperity!
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, I wish to thank Your Excellency, Ambassador Rwimo, for playing a vital role in the consolidation of relations between our two countries. May your remaining years in South Africa lead to the further strengthening and consolidation of the cordial relations between our two countries.
It is in this spirit that I have the honour to propose, on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, a toast to the well-being of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr Pierre Nkurunziza and the people of Burundi.

Murakoze! (Thank you)