GITEGA August 4th (ABP) – Burundi Senate President Emmanuel Sinzohagera received in audience on Tuesday, August 3, in his office based in Gitega (central Burundi), the ambassadors of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kenya to Burundi, respectively Mr. Jeroen Theodurus Maria Geradus Steeghs and Daniel Waisiko.
At the end of their meeting, the deputy spokesperson of the Senate, Mr. Ladislas Niyiragira, told the press that the president of the Burundian Senate and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Burundi focused their discussions on the bilateral cooperation. The president of the Senate expressed his appreciation for the quality of the contributions of the Netherlands to Burundi, pointing to the areas of security and agriculture. He took the opportunity to ask that country to re-launch projects that were suspended following the sanctions imposed on Burundi in 2015, according to Mr. Niyiragira.
After learning that the Burundian Senate is building the capacities of local officials-elect, the Netherlands ambassador to Burundi promised that his country will be able to contribute, Mr. Niyiragira said. He went on to say that the president of the Senate informed the Ambassador of the Netherlands that the Upper House of the Burundi Parliament is reviewing the past of Burundi in order to heal the wounds of society caused by the tragic events it went through.
To that end, Mr. Niyiragira indicated that the president of the Senate asked the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to get involved in pleading that the countries of the European Union contribute in that direction.
As for the exchanges with the Kenyan ambassador, the president of the Senate testified to him of the good ties of fraternity which bind Burundi and Kenya. He acknowledged Kenya’s unwavering attachment to Burundi during hard times, according to the deputy Senate spokesperson, adding that Mr. Sinzohagera did not forget to express to his host his feelings of satisfaction, regarding the visits that the President of the Kenyan Senate made to him on two occasions, promising to visit his Kenyan counterpart in turn.
In addition, Mr. Niyiragira indicated that the two persons in authority explored the areas of cooperation between Burundi and Kenya.