A Belgian government delegation led by Prime Minister Louis Michel and Development Cooperation Minister Marc Verwilghen began a tour of the Great Lakes region of Africa on Sunday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). [see also "IRIN interview with Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel"]
After the DRC, the delegation was scheduled to visit Kampala, capital of neighbouring Uganda, and then Kigali, capital of neighbouring Rwanda, where it would end its tour.
IRIN had the opportunity to speak with Verwilghen in Kinshasa on Monday, during which he talked about Belgium's intention to double its financial aid to the DRC in support of the reunification and rehabilitation of the country. He said that some €40 million (US $46.9 million) would be mobilised to assist transitional government institutions, education, the health sector and local initiatives.
QUESTION: During your visit to the DRC, you will be visiting hospitals and primary schools. How does Belgium intend to support the health and education sectors?
ANSWER: We will not only be visiting hospitals and primary schools but also universities and scientific research centres. The main purpose of our current visit is to express our hope that the Congolese people and nation are headed in the right direction. We are also looking for ways that we can develop our partnership towards a multisectoral cooperation, as we are already doing with other countries.
Q: Does your participation in this mission mean that Belgium is interested in re-establishing bilateral cooperation with the government of the DRC?
A: We are working on many fronts all at once. Each time that we work with the Congolese authorities, they ask us for increased aid, particularly in support of government institutions and administration. Funds and expertise are available to the Congo to encourage investment. It is a structural strategy. It is in this manner that a state can be helped. Foreign expertise is needed, but the Congo already has people capable of operating an efficient government administration.
We have also made available to the Congolese government an expert in administrative reform. Of course, it is up to the Congolese government to accept this offer. Therefore, we are talking about a specific and targeted type of aid. Furthermore, round-table discussions will be held to consider these reforms.
Q: Where and when will these round tables be held?
A: I can tell you that they will be held here, in Congo. Two round-table discussions will be organised this year on education and on health. In early 2004, other discussions will be held regarding basic infrastructure and agricultural reform.
Q: What will be the amount of financial aid from Belgium in support of such reforms?
A: With regard to financial support, we plan on doubling the amount we are currently providing. An additional €40 million will be made available to support the sectors I mentioned earlier. The aid will therefore primarily support Congolese institutions, the education sector, the health sector and local initiatives. Some €10 million [$11.8 million] of this total amount will be used for these local initiatives. In addition, we want to develop a much larger structure for longer-term cooperation through the establishment of a joint commission.
Q: You have also said that you would be supporting other efforts, such as demining.
A: We have a particular concern for the rights of children. What child could be more endangered than a child soldier? And what about all of these people who have been injured by antipersonnel mines? Children are most often the victims. These are sectors in which we will make our expertise available to the Congolese.
On Sunday we learned that the Congo already had a network in place for the reinsertion and support of child soldiers. We will certainly continue to support these efforts, in conformity with international agreements that Belgium has signed and intends to respect.
Q: What is the nature of Belgian aid to other countries in the Great Lakes region?
A: The message for the Congo is the most concrete. Immediate measures will be taken in four sectors: institutional reform, health, education, local initiatives. Agreements will be signed. Plans are in the process of being elaborated. The necessary funds are available. Things are therefore concrete. As for the other countries, we have a number of proposals to be formulated.
Q: How does Belgium plan on helping to restructure and train the new national army?
A: My colleague, [Andre] Flahaut, [minister] of defence, came here a few weeks ago. [See earlier IRIN story, "Belgian, French defence ministers vow continued support", at http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=35780]. And you already know that a number of Congolese military officers are being trained in our military academy. And according to what I have heard, they are some of the best students in their classes. This encourages us to strengthen cooperation in this domain.
The rest, of course, depends on political decisions to be made by the Congolese state. We will make our experts in various domains available, including matters related to defence.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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