11 May 2014

Botswana values the enduring friendship and the generous assistance European Union (EU) continues to provide to complement its development efforts. 

Speaking at the EU Day on May 8. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani said amongst these efforts, had been implementation of the 10^th European Development Fund (EDF) grant of 73 million Euros, which among others, focused on development of the education sector.

He noted with satisfaction that the EU had been supporting the education sector in Botswana for over 20 years now and that negotiations for the 11th EDF were on-going.

Minister Skelemani said in February this year, the EU office in Botswana extended funding support of approximately P7 million to civil society organisations for work on human rights under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. 

“This is an instrument under which civil society organisations receive support to do work on a broad spectrum of human rights issues which have been identified as a priority in Botswana,” he said.

He explained that the organisations which benefited from the support  includes Stepping Stones International, Kagisano Women’s Shelter and Thuso Rehabilitation Centre which focus on protecting the rights of children, women’s rights and gender based violence including the rights of people living with disabilities.

He therefore said Botswana was indebted to the EU for the support as it would complement the country’s efforts to achieve the aspirations of vision 2016 and the Millennium Development Goals.

He said over the past year, Botswana has seen high level exchanges between Botswana and the EU which is no doubt a testimony of the growing bonds of friendship between Botswana and the EU. 

Mr Skelemani therefore commended EU for its unrelenting commitment to regional integration which has considerably transformed Europe into a union of progressive democracies bound by common values and unity of purpose.

“We note with admiration that the EU has succeeded in the development of common value systems and institutions which are at the core of the integration processes and intensification of peaceful co-existence among European countries and citizens,” he added.

The minister explained that the unity which characterises the EU today remains an enduring inspiration to many regions of the world, particularly the southern region and the rest of Africa which still grapples with the challenge to expedite the process of economic integration within and among regional block.

He stated that Botswana–EU political dialogue continues to be one of the pillars and anchor of cooperation and collaboration adding that through such mechanism, the two parties are able to have frank exchange of views on issues of common interest, with the intention of bolstering cooperation and fostering mutual understanding between the two on domestic, regional and international issues. 

“In this regard, the 2013 political dialogue was manifest in exemplifying our mutually beneficial collaboration and I have no doubt that, we will together in future continue to have this constructive engagement,” he said

For his part, the Head of Delegation of EU to Botswana and SADC, Ambassador Gerard McGovern said their missions in Gaborone will throughout the year; commemorate some of the key aspects of the First World War.

He said Europe was at the very core of both these terrible conflicts that twice laid waste to the continent in the space of a generation.

“As a Union that was born out of war, out of the necessity to prevent further bloodshed, tonight we remember an undeniable part of our past,” he said.

He explained that World War 1, known as the Great War, is said to have claimed lives of nine million combatants, adding that the war did shape the world like no other conflict did before. Ends