WORLD BANK PRESIDENT WOLFOWITZ VISITS BURUNDI

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000211 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN EINV ECON EAID BY SUBJECT: WORLD BANK PRESIDENT WOLFOWITZ VISITS BURUNDI ¶1. (U) Summary. During a March visit to Burundi, the President of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz discussed with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza the World Bank's proposed $130 million poverty-reduction grant and stressed the need for increased support to the private sector. Mr. Wolfowitz expressed strong support for an upcoming donor round table to address poverty in Burundi. In a meeting with civil society groups, he stressed the importance of working with government and suggested the creation of a standing forum which would meet regularly with government officials. End Summary. Meets with President Nkurunziza -------------- ¶2. (U) Alassane Sow, the World Bank's Representative in Burundi, briefed members of the Diplomatic Corps on World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's March 7-9 visit to Burundi, including his meetings with President Pierre Nkurunziza and other groups. During a March 16 meeting held at the UN Headquarters in Bujumbura, Sow reported that the two discussed Burundi's Strategic Framework for the Fight Against Poverty ("Cadre Strategique pour la Lutte contre la Pauvrete"),and a proposed $130 million World Bank grant that would address education, infrastructure, and energy needs in Burundi. Wolfowitz stressed to the President that his message was one of hope and encouragement, rather than of critisicm and censure. He stressed that the World Bank would like Burundi to make progress towards a budget that encourages economic development. To achieve this goal, Mr. Wolfowitz encouraged Burundi to begin steps toward lowering defense spending and raising its budget for social needs. President Nkurunziza stressed his strong commitment to fighting social inequality, and said that he looked forward to partnering with the World Bank to ameliorate Burundi's extreme poverty. Mr. Wolfowitz also assured Burundi's president that the World Bank would participate in the May donor roundtable to discuss Burundi's urgent development needs. Meeting with Civil Society -------------- ¶3. (U) President Wolfowitz suggested that civil society groups create a standing forum to meet regularly with government officials, which could serve to lessen tension and forestall potential misunderstandings between the government and civil society. In his meetings with civil society and human rights groups, President Wolfowitz reiterated the necessity of working with the government to help Burundi continue its progress following the cessation of the war. In meetings with the Observatory for the Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements (OLUCOME) and Ligue Iteka, Burundi's foremost human rights organization, Wolfowitz declared that the World Bank was committed to supporting Burundi's private sector. ¶5. (U) Comment. Mr. Wolfowitz's visit to Burundi at this time highlights Burundi's compelling development needs. His announcement of $130 million in assistance is telling in its clear-cut focus. The World Bank has identified the three areas - education, infrastructure, and energy - that press most heavily on Burundi's poverty. If these cmr issues an be successfully addressed through donor assistance, Burun`k!wilL je hn !`gwktondQQd6eLx ht`Wv(e`nn-)Q