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Our support intact, EU tells Tanzania
2008-05-07 09:29:25
By Hafsa Massati
The European Union has said its general budget support to development projects in Tanzania will continue.
This is contrary to fears that the bloc was disillusioned and would deny the country aid pending a major shift in policies and priorities.
The assurance comes after the EU recently looked hesitant to direct further development assistance to Tanzania, apparently because it did not respond swiftly enough to corruption charges levelled against some high-ranking past and present government officials.
Ambassador Tim Clarke, Head of EU Delegation in the country, underlined the bloc`s commitment in Dar es Salaam yesterday when asked on how they viewed the government`s perceived silence over the allegations.
He made the stand known in remarks at the launch of the weeklong celebrations that started on Monday to mark the EU`s 51st anniversary.
According to Clarke, the government of Tanzania and the EU country mission had differed on how the former was handling the corruption allegations.
``It is true that the EU mission in the country has been hesitating on whether to continue honouring its commitment of supporting Tanzania. This came about after the country failed to show enough evidence that it was serious on acting on the allegations,`` he said.
But he added that, after consultations between the two sides, ``Tanzanians should rest assured that the flow of European Union assistance to their country will continue``.
The envoy explained that an EU delegation recently met Finance ministry officials and representatives of several other European development partners on the modalities of continuing to support Tanzania.
``The meeting revealed that a sense of mutual trust and confidence which is gradually returning. The aid will now be pumped in just as we had promised,` he said.
Clarke pointed out that the foundation of the EU`s commitments was the extent to which good governance and financial discipline characterised the management of previous support.
That included taking appropriate measures against acts and persons behind malpractices in the use of the respective funds.
Meanwhile, Information, Sports and Culture minister George Mkuchika said that the government was impressed with the way Tanzania and its European development partners had reached a consensus on how to cooperate for mutual benefit in the future.
He noted that the EU has extended development and other support to Tanzania for decades and any disruption in the flow of the assistance would have adversely affected the country`s economy.
``These development partners have so fully appreciated the way President Jakaya Kikwete and the government has responded to the grand corruption allegations they have agreed to afford our country more development support,`` the minister pointed out.
He said the EU and Tanzania, through his ministry, had entered into a cultural exchange pact in respect of traditional dance and cultural groups.
French Ambassador Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency, said the highlights of the celebrations would include the signing of some form of development cooperation agreement.
``There will be several activities to mark the week, among them TV documentaries, traditional dance performances, and a sample of activities exemplifying the EU`s contribution to Tanzania`s social and economic development. However, perhaps the most salient and remarkable will be the signing of the Country Strategy Paper,`` he said.
The envoy added that the signing of the paper would be part of Tanzania`s march towards the ratification of the treaty endorsed at the EU-Africa Summit held in Lisbon last year.
The paper, expected to serve as the official framework of development cooperation between the EU and Tanzania, is due to be signed at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam today.
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