2007 (PDF, 2.81 MB) - Belgium

for example by taking part in the Great Lakes
Contact Group and Security Sector Reform.
In terms of international cooperation, Belgium also
attached particularly major significance to the relaunch
of the Economic Community of the Great
Lakes Countries (CEPGL).
The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, together
with his Burundian, Congolese and Rwandan counterparts,
attended the organisation’s relaunch on 17
April. Belgium will continue with its commitment to
the new-formula CEPGL.
Following the breaking-off of diplomatic relations
between France and Rwanda, Belgium declared
itself willing to defend French interests in Kigali.
Belgium also carried on with its development cooperation
with Rwanda. The Partners Committee had a
meeting in September.
In Burundi, Belgium helped to break the political
deadlock that gripped the country for much of the
year. Belgium is implementing an extensive development
cooperation programme there. The Partners
Committee met in October.
Belgium urged the Central African states to ratify
the Pact on Stability, Security and Development that
had been signed in 2006 at the second summit of
the International Conference on the Great Lakes
Region in Nairobi by the eleven participating countries.
Ratification is needed for the pact to take
effect. The big challenge for the region is now to
apply the pact on the ground.
Belgium was also involved in efforts by the UN (resolutions,
monitoring adherence to the weapons embargo,
the issue of child soldiers, and so forth), the
African Union, La Francophonie and the European
Union. In these organisations Belgium is constantly
trying to get its partners to make a sustainable
commitment to Central Africa.
South, East and West Africa
South Africa
Belgium continued to work on developing a strategic
partnership with South Africa in 2007. The second
meeting of the Joint Committee bringing together
the two countries was held in Pretoria on 24 and 25
October. Areas covered were defence, foreign affairs,
cooperation and business.
Sudan
Belgium continued to closely monitor the situation in
Sudan. Minister De Gucht undertook a tour there in
May, during which he placed emphasis on the crucial
importance of fully implementing the North-South
Peace Agreement. Belgium is also supporting institution
building projects promoting the reconstruction
of Southern Sudan. The crisis in Darfur continued to
be a concern for Belgium, which is convinced that a
negotiated political solution is absolutely essential,
leading it to provide financial assistance to initiatives
aimed at bringing together the countries that have
not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).
Chad and the Central African Republic
In the autumn the European Union launched the
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operation
‘EUFOR Chad-CAR’ in an effort to avoid the crisis
in Darfur spilling over into the east of Chad and the
north-east of the Central African Republic. The Belgian
government decided to send 80 to 100 soldiers there.
The Horn of Africa
Belgium focused special attention in its role as a nonpermanent
member of the UN Security Council on the
Horn of Africa. Belgium was in fact made coordinator
of work on the border conflict between Ethiopia and
Eritrea, coordinating the differing positions and supervising
the drafting of resolutions about this topic.
In this connection, Special Envoy of the Minister
for Foreign Affairs with regard to UN Affairs Pierre
Chevalier visited Asmara, Addis Abeba and the headquarters
of the African Union in February 2007.
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