GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS - BURUNDI

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000295 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT EAID ECIN ECON EFIS MARR MASS MCAP MOPS PHSA, PINS, PREL, SMIG, SENV, SNAR, ASEC, XX, BY SUBJECT: GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS - BURUNDI REF: STATE 50488 ¶1. (U) In a meeting June 3 with EmbOff, Chief of the Burundian Maritime Police Colonel Leonce Musavyi said that he appreciated the potential benefits of Global Maritime Partnerships (reftel) and was eager to explore cooperation in this area. Colonel Musavyi noted that the Marine Police have no boats and therefore no ability to patrol Lake Tanganyika and the Port of Bujumbura. He also reported high levels of piracy and smuggling, including cases of Burundian fishermen being harassed on a regular basis by bandits from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He had already prepared a project proposal requesting training and equipment to professionalize the Marine Police. ¶2. (U) Post has also been in contact with Mr. Bashigwa Fidele, Director of the Department of Fishing and Fish Farming Activities, who said that he would welcome assistance in training fishermen, establishing fish processing facilities and increasing the capacity of his department,s staff to enforce fishing laws ) which were last updated in ¶1937. In discussions with both Colonel Musavyi and Mr. Fidele, EmbOff emphasized the need to form public-private alliances and cooperative frameworks that would reflect the principles behind Global Maritime Partnerships. Post will continue these conversations and hopes to identify a number of areas for collaboration. MOLLER