VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJB #0298 1571511
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051511Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0992
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000298 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: FOMIN: BURUNDI TRYING TO REVIVE REGIONAL ECONOMIC 
FORUM 
 
REF: BUJUMBURA 277 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  In a June 4 meeting with the Ambassador 
and Director of Central African Affairs Karl Wycoff, 
Burundian Minister of External Relations Antoinette 
Batumbwira: 
-  requested that the U.S. help persuade the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo (DRC) to return to active participation 
in the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries 
(CEPGL); 
-  expressed her gratitude of continued U.S. support as 
Burundi enters an era of peace; and 
-  agreed that Tripartite initiatives remain crucial to 
regional stability.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  In a brief meeting June 4 with the Ambassador and 
Director of Central African Affairs Karl Wycoff, Burundian 
Minister of External Relations Antoinette Batumbwira 
requested that the U.S. help persuade the DRC to once again 
become an active participant in the CEPGL.  The CEPGL, she 
explained, is a regional initiative established in the early 
1990's to foster economic cooperation and development among 
the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.  After nearly a decade of 
inactivity due to regional conflict, Burundi and Rwanda have 
taken steps to revive the CEPGL, but to succeed the forum 
needs the DRC to commit to the program.  Citing the good 
relations the USG enjoys with the DRC, Batumbwira said she 
hoped that the U.S. can convince the Congolese to rejoin the 
CEPGL and help implement programs to promote regional 
economic stability. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  At its inception, Batumbwira continued, the CEPGL 
trilateral initiative was an active forum, benefitting the 
three nations through cooperative projects and the free 
movement of people and goods across their borders.  Noting 
Burundi's recent accession into the East African Economic 
Community, Batumbwira said that the CEPGL can become a bridge 
between the regional initiatives of east Africa and the 
developing markets of central Africa.  In particular, 
Batumbwira stated, enormous benefits can be reaped in the 
lucrative coffee and tea sectors through the cooperation of 
the three Great Lakes nations and its neighbors Kenya, Uganda 
and Tanzania.  Without elaborating, she advocated developing 
cross-border projects which can stimulate economic growth 
within the region but said that significant progress cannot 
be realized without the cooperation of the DRC. 
 
------------------------------ 
FNL -- still a negative force? 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Referring to the May 26 cessation of hostilities 
agreement between the GOB and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL (FNL), 
Batumbwira thanked the U.S. for its continued support of 
Burundi during this "time of hope." (reftel)  While also 
thanking the U.S. for its facilitation role in the Tripartite 
Plus regional initiative, the Minister said she hoped that 
the FNL will no longer be considered a "negative force" in 
the region due to its recent agreement to end hostilities and 
to implement the cease-fire agreement with the GOB.  She did, 
however, agree with Director Wycoff that the Tripartite Plus 
mechanism is still necessary for building regional 
cooperation and promoting information sharing. 
 
¶5.  (U)  Director Wycoff has cleared this cable. 
MOLLER