Brussels, 13/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On a visit to Brussels, the President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya met Commission President Romano Prodi an the Commissioner for Development Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, to discuss co-operation between the EU and that ACP country. The Burundi President thanked Europe for its support and urged it to continue its co-operation. Poul Nielson announced that Burundi would receive 115 million euro for the period 2002-2007, under the Partnership for Development (9th European Development Fund). This sum comes on top of the 158 million the Commission has committed since the Paris Conference on the re-launch of international co-operation with Burundi (December 2000) and the 9.5 million euro allocated to the multinational security force led by South Africa to ensure the return of Burundi refugees. The Commission should soon be announcing 17.5 million euro in humanitarian aid for Burundi for 2002. Speaking to the press, President Buyoya stipulated that the Burundi troops present in the Congo had as sole purpose to "protect the borders" and were thus not an occupation force. Regarding the rebellion, he said that the Burundi authorities were doing their utmost to bring them around the negotiating table, adding, however, that "alternatives will have to be envisaged" in case of refusal.